Primary Markets for U.S. Dairy Exports

North America is the largest market for U.S. dairy exports. Mexico is currently the largest export market for our products, accounting for more than 30% of the total value of U.S. dairy exports in 2005. Strong income and population growth should continue to keep demand strong there, especially for high-quality cheese and other processed dairy products like ice cream and yogurt.

Canada is the second biggest export market for U.S. dairy exports, accounting for almost 16% of the value of U.S. dairy exports in 2005. Japan, Philippines and China are also expanding markets for U.S. dairy food exports.

U.S. cheese exports have been growing steadily throughout the last decade, growing to 645 thousand metric tons in 2006, which is an increase of 24% over 2005 exports. Mexico, Canada and Japan account for the most of those exports, but South Korea, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia are becoming important customers as well.

Although cheese consumption has been greatest in the United States, Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Russia and Japan, it has been growing steadily in all areas of the world. In the last four years, the largest importers of cheese are the United States, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Korea.

Whey and whey proteins have become important new sources of value-added exports for U.S. dairy foods manufacturers in recent years. Approximately 300 thousand metric tons of whey products were shipped throughout the world in 2006; that's an increase of 25% over 2005 exports. China, Mexico and Canada accounted for many of these exports.

Mexico is the number one destination for U.S. ice cream exports followed by Canada, the Bahamas, United Kingdom and Hong Kong. U.S. exports of yogurt go mainly to Mexico, Trinidad and Hong Kong.