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Global demand drives 28% surge in U.S. cheese exports, butterfat sales nearly triple

The U.S. Dairy Export Council says August shipments continued a three-month trend higher.

William Loux tells Brownfield demand for cheese is strong globally.

“We are in for probably almost certainly a record cheese year again here in 2025,” he says. “We had a record year in 2024, we had a record year in 2022, so basically three out of the last four years we’ve set new records.”

Year over year, cheese exports were up 28 percent for August, a record high for the month. Cheddar exports saw 140 percent growth with new processing capacity adding to supplies. All major regions experienced increased purchasing, except for Canada, which declined by 18 percent, while South Korean exports rose by 84 percent.

Butterfat exports nearly tripled year ago, with sales to Canada up 73 percent. Butter exports were up 190 percent, and anhydrous milkfat increased 198 percent from July.

“We are not a traditional exporter of fat, actually, last year we were a net importer of butter,” he says. “But this year, by virtue of the rising milk production, the strong component levels in our milk, and the fact that really the world is looking for some other suppliers of fat, folks have been eager to find other supply options in the US has started to fill that.”

Low-protein whey shipments were flat while high-protein whey exports rose nine percent lead by sales to Japan. Dry whey sales rose nine percent, supported by Chinese purchases.

Nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder exports fell 18 percent for the month, and were the lowest since 2019.

Total U.S. dairy exports gained three percent in volume year over year, while values jumped 17 percent to $831.5 million.