In the March-May period, sales to Mexico were up 42% from the prior year.

U.S. dairy export volumes reached record highs in May, boosted by continued strong sales of
cheese, milk powder and whey products, according to trade data released July 11 by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

Total export value was $500 million, up 26%  from May 2011. In the March-May period, U.S. exports of dry ingredients (milk powder, whey, lactose), cheese and butterfat were 446,577 tons, up 11% from the previous year.

In the March-May period, sales to Mexico were up 42% from the prior year, and exports to the Middle East/North Africa more than tripled, but shipments to Southeast Asia were off 24%.

U.S. cheese exports established a new record high in May, with volumes up 16% from April (daily average basis). In the March-May period, shipments to Mexico were up 44% vs. prior year, while South Korea (+23%), Japan (+36%) and Saudi Arabia (+38%) also posted strong gains.

Whey exports were strong in May, with total volume up 4% from April (daily-average basis) to finish just shy of the record reached in June 2010. Improved shipments of dry whey (+15% vs. April daily average) and near-record volumes of WPC drove the gains. China remains the major customer for U.S. whey products, with March-May purchases up 17% vs. the prior year. In addition, exports to Mexico were up 27%.
 

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