US cheese exports were 41,585t in April, a similar volume as in March and 2.4% above the prior year comparable, bringing shipments for the year to date ahead by 9.6%. The monthly volume was highest on record for the month of April and ranked second all-time only following March, with Mexico a leading destination – shipments increased 8.1% YOY to this key market in April and 21.5% for the year to date.

NFDM/SMP exports declined in April however, down 5.9% YOY to 74,392t, reflecting declines in shipments to Mexico and mixed trends into SE Asia (positive for Indonesia and the Philippines but negative for Vietnam).

Total whey product exports were near flat in April, despite a double digit decline in shipments to China (-11.5% YOY) and masked a surge in shipments of WPC (+24.1% YOY) and a decline in dry whey exports (-18.9% YOY). Among other products, shipments of lactose, casein, MPC and AMF increased YOY in April, but with declines for infant formula, butter, WMP and FFMP & Mixtures.