After falling for 13 consecutive months to November EU-28 SMP exports were up 8.1% YOY in December. At 61,138t December SMP shipments were a 3-month high, bringing 2020 exports to 13.8% behind the prior year comparative. SE Asia accounted for 61% of that decline but there were also large declines in exports to Mexico and the Middle East.

Cheese exports improved again, increasing YOY in 17 of the 18 months since July 2019. Cheese exports rose 13.8% YOY to 79,759t in December. CIS and Japan were the strongest expansion regions in 2020, jointly accounting for 61% of the growth (or 38,875t) while shipments to North America fell by 11,243t. There were also stronger cheese shipments to South Korea and China & HK, up 27.2% and 33% respectively, and growth in South America (+20%), Northern Africa (+9%) and the Middle East (+4%) for the 12-month period.

Butter exports fell for the fifth consecutive month in December, down 26.1% YOY to 12,949t. Butter exports still increased by 31,788t in 2020, with MENA accounting for 48% of that growth. WMP exports rose 10.4% YOY to 24,180t in December, but trends have been patchy since August. WMP exports were up 11.5% for the calendar year. An estimated 80% of that growth was into Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa. On a 12-month rolling basis, December cheese, lactose and milk & cream exports were at an all-time high.