US Dairy Exports Near Record in 2025
U.S. dairy exports surged sharply in calendar year 2025, with total export value hitting approximately $9.51 billion, a 15 % increase over 2024 and just below the 2022 record of $9.55 billion. Strong global demand underpinned the near-record performance, underscoring the United States’ expanding role in international dairy markets.
Total U.S. dairy export volume reached 2.8 million metric tons in 2025, up about 5 % year-over-year, reflecting growth across key product categories and regions. Export strength was particularly notable in cheese and butterfat products, with several destinations posting double-digit gains.
Key highlights from 2025 trade data:
• Cheese exports climbed ~20 % to 1.35 billion pounds, driven by robust shipments to Mexico, South Korea, Japan and other markets; value of cheese exports reached $2.97 billion.
• Butter exports skyrocketed ~162 % to 184.2 million pounds, breaking prior records, with export value up ~141 %.
• Yogurt exports also hit a record high (80.9 million pounds, +32 %), reflecting rising global demand for cultured dairy products.
• Nonfat dry milk (NDM) exports posted a ~9 % rise in 2025, one of the few categories to grow against past volatility, though some other ingredients, like whey protein concentrate, saw mixed results.
Leading export markets included Mexico ($2.58 billion), Canada ($1.3 billion), Japan ($557.4 million), South Korea ($517.7 million) and China ($523.2 million) — highlighting geographic diversity in U.S. dairy demand.
Industry analysts attribute the strong export performance to competitive pricing, expanded production capacity, and targeted market development efforts by U.S. dairy exporters, even as import volumes into the United States declined in 2025 — reducing competitive pressure on domestic producers.
Source : DAirynews7x7\ Feb 22nd 2026 Read full story here
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