U.S. dairy export volumes were up 12% in August over a year ago

Despite trade wars with Mexico and China, U.S. dairy export volumes were up 12% in August over a year ago. On a value basis, nearly $481 million worth of dairy products were exported, an increase of 3%. For the year through August, U.S. exports are still showing good growth, up 17% on a volume basis and up 4% on value, reports the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Non-fat dry milk/skim milk powder sales to Mexico remain on a torrid pace, unaffected by tariffs. Export sales to our neighbor to the south in August were at their highest level since October 2016, up a whopping 64%. Cheese sales to Mexico, subject to tariffs, were down 21%. That’s despite the fact some U.S. cheese exporters were absorbing tariff costs to maintain sales. Cheese sales to China and Canada were off 40% in August. Exports to China alone were down 33%, and were the lowest in nearly two years.