News

U.S. dairy exports jump 14 percent in May, extending growth streak to eight consecutive months

The senior dairy analyst with Terrain says strong U.S. dairy export growth continues to help boost producer profitability.

But, Ben Lane says there have been shifts in demand.

“We had traditionally exported powders and commodities like non-fat dry milk and whey powders,” he says. “Countries are looking for more of those finished consumer products like cheese and butter, so we’ve seen huge growth in those products in terms of what we’re exporting.”

He tells Brownfield it could put downward pressure on the market.

“If there’s any disruptions there, that would be a risk factor,” he says. “If there’s any slowdown in demand, we could see some weakness on the export front potentially.”

Lane says tighter supplies in high-protein whey exports continue to limit growth. Nonfat dry milk and skim milk powder exports dropped 20 percent from last year as demand remains weak.

Exports to the Middle East and Africa saw the largest gain in total butterfat exports, up 767 percent from a year ago. Butter exports to Saudi Arabia jumped 473 percent as U.S. suppliers shifted shipments through the country to avoid disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Cheese exports rose 18 percent in May topping 60,000 metric tons for the third consecutive month. Mexico and South Korea led export growth, with shipments to South Korea rising 52 percent and Mexico rising 16 percent.

Overall U.S. dairy export values increased 12 percent from 2025, rising to $4.32 billion for 2026.

AUDIO: Ben Lane, Terrain