Cheese hits export record

U.S. Dairy Export Council
Jan 19, 2026
Jan 19, 2026

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Exports of all cheese varieties is increasing, but Cheddar continues on a tear with volumes more than doubling through October 2025 compared to 2024. It accounted for more than 40 percent of total cheese-export growth in October.

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U.S. Dairy Export Council

After a dip in September, U.S. dairy exports moved back into growth mode in October; milk-solids equivalent volume increased a healthy 7 percent compared to the previous year. U.S. suppliers saw growth across most major product categories, except for lactose, which decreased 10 percent, and both low- and high-protein whey, which finished the month 1 percent shy of their previous-year totals. Note – Whey numbers have been adjusted to account for miscategorized shipments to China.

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The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. It’s primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy-farmer checkoff. Visit www.usdec.org for more information.