According to new estimates issued by the US Department of Agriculture on Feb. 7, US dairy exports will hit $9.5 billion in 2022, substantially surpassing the industry’s previous high of $7.6 billion established in 2021. It was the third year in a row that US dairy exports reached new highs.
In addition, US dairy exports set a new volume record in 2022, totalling 2.82 million metric tonnes.
According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), US dairy exports have climbed by 85% in the last decade, while volume has increased by 52%.
“Today’s export results reflect the rate at which the US dairy sector is innovating and capitalising on possibilities to market US-made dairy products worldwide,” said Michael Dykes, president and CEO of IDFA. “Consumers in the United States and throughout the globe continue to want more US dairy because we offer an array of tasty, healthy, economical and sustainable dairy products. From high-value whey to award-winning cheeses, milk powders used to manufacture life-saving products for children and adults to safe and nutritious, shelf-stable milk, US dairy is renowned across the globe for its quality and dependability. We are on track to become the world’s largest provider of dairy products, owing to the tenacity and ingenuity of American dairy exporters and dairy food firms.”
Dykes said that 30 years ago, the market for US dairy products was “virtually completely domestic,” but today the US dairy sector exports around 18% of its milk products.
Mexico, Canada, China, and the Philippines are the top four international markets for US dairy. According to the US Dairy Export Council, Mexico has become the first $2 billion US dairy export market, with sales increasing by 37% to $2.5 billion in 2022.
“As US milk production continues to rise over the next decade while other dairy-producing rivals’ output falls,” Dykes added. “IDFA encourages the Biden Administration and Congress to explore additional free trade agreements in developing areas for US dairy and to continue to hold trading partners with whom we have agreements to their promises.”
According to the USDEC, cheese exports in 2022 will increase by 18% in Mexico, 41% in the Middle East and North Africa, 17% in Japan, 17% in Central America, 25% in the Caribbean, 9% in South Korea, 14% in Australia, and 28% in Colombia.
“We’ve experienced three straight years of record US dairy exports despite battling some of the toughest dairy export headwinds we’ve ever seen,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of the USDEC. “Last year, we experienced unprecedented global inflation, slowing economic growth, lasting supply chain issues and drastically curtailed Chinese demand. US dairy export success under such circumstances demonstrates US suppliers’ commitment to global markets as well as the value consumers in those nations have grown to put on US dairy goods.”
