Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) member cooperatives accepted six offers of export assistance from CWT that helped them capture contracts to sell 341,717 pounds (155 metric tons) of Cheddar cheese, and 2.097 million pounds (951 metric tons) of whole milk powder. The product has been contracted for delivery in Asia, Central and South America for the period from August through December 2018.
CWT-assisted member cooperative 2018 export sales total of 46 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 12.305 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 31.744 million pounds of whole milk powder to 29 countries on five continents. These sales are the equivalent of 933.560 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.
This activity reflects CWT management beginning the process of implementing the strategic plan approved by the CWT Committee in March. The changes will enhance the effectiveness of the program and facilitate member export opportunities.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program in the long term helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
