Cheese production rose just 0.4% YOY in September according to the USDA, despite raw milk supplies increasing 1.5% YOY nationally. American cheese output fell 2.6% YOY for the month (with a 1.7% contraction for cheddar) while “other cheese” (including mozzarella) lifted 4% YOY. Combined NFDM & SMP output fell 13.9% YOY in September, reflecting a contraction of 18.9% for SMP and a 11.3% decline for NFDM. Butter production was down 1.4% YOY in September in line with lower SMP/NFDM output.

Dry whey production rose 5% YOY for the month and has generally trended positive since March. September WPC production was up 2.9% YOY, despite a 0.9% YOY drop in output of WPC 25-49.9 products. WPC 50-89.9 output increased for the month however, up 5.2% YOY in September. Lactose manufacture fell 5.5% YOY in September. MPC production in September rose 24.3% YOY, while output of WPIs lifted 21.8% YOY and was 15.4% ahead for the year to date.