US: dairy sector
This page contains data regarding key components of the United States dairy industry over a given time period.
The purpose of this report is two-fold:
- on the one hand, it highlights the complexity of the industry, which should be considered from several viewpoints:
the commodities area, the variety of dairy derivatives, imports, exports and domestic consumption; - on the other hand, it exemplifies the framework of a market that equates large domestic consumption figures (supported by import volumes) to large production figures.
Latest climate weekly reports about precipitations and temperatures.
Total Precipitation: level of rainfall;
Temperature anomalies: variation compared to historical mean temperature;
Min Temperature: minimum temperature;
Max Temperature: maximum temperature;
| US: DAIRY SECTOR | ||||||||||
| x 1.000 ton | ||||||||||
| RAW MATERIAL AREA | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | % | Period | ||
| Farms ('000) | 1.960 | 1.901 | 1.897 | 1.882 | ||||||
| Number of cows ('000 head) | 9.386 | 9.405 | 9.344 | 9.360 | 9.330 | 9.457 | +1,4% | Jan-Aug 2025 | ||
| Cow's milk production | 102.646 | 102.702 | 102.654 | 102.453 | 68.992 | 70.173 | +1,7% | Jan-Aug 2025 | ||
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | +0,1% | 0,0% | -0,2% | |||||||
| Farm-gate milk price € x 100 Kg ** | 34,59 | 53,13 | 41,49 | 45,94 | 43,36 | 44,16 | +1,8% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | +53,6% | -21,9% | +10,7% | |||||||
| Corn price (North West Iowa, IA) (€\Ton) | 194,4 | 267,0 | 214,1 | 155,1 | 154,5 | 146,7 (p) | -5,1% | Jan-Nov 2025 | ||
| Soybeans price (Western Illinois, IL) (€\Ton) | 450,1 | 571,4 | 506,8 | 391,2 | 394,1 | 350,2 (p) | -11,1% | Jan-Nov 2025 | ||
| DAIRY PRODUCTION | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | % | Period | ||
| Liquid milk | 20.192 | 19.706 | 19.423 | 19.585 | ||||||
| Butter | 936 | 934 | 958 | 1.014 | 622 | 655 | +5,4% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Cream Sour | 677 | 678 | 689 | 702 | 400 | 393 | -1,9% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Cheese | 6.242 | 6.389 | 6.421 | 6.463 | 3.779 | 3.845 | +1,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Italian Mozzarella | 2.040 | 2.110 | 2.089 | 2.172 | 1.264 | 1.289 | +2,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Cheddar | 1.801 | 1.798 | 1.856 | 1.717 | 1.006 | 1.062 | +5,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Americal Colby & Jack & Monterey | 746 | 775 | 795 | 812 | 472 | 470 | -0,4% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Cream & Neufchatel | 465 | 507 | 495 | 525 | 308 | 297 | -3,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Italian Parmesan & Similar | 220 | 220 | 222 | 203 | 123 | 138 | +12,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Italian Provolone & Similar | 172 | 168 | 171 | 176 | 103 | 101 | -2,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Hispanic | 160 | 175 | 192 | 197 | 114 | 116 | +1,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Swiss | 150 | 159 | 152 | 163 | 102 | 86 | -15,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Italian Ricotta & Similar | 114 | 112 | 112 | 110 | 61 | 61 | -0,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Muenster | 87 | 87 | 92 | 95 | ||||||
| Feta | 77 | 64 | 66 | 70 | 42 | 40 | -4,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Blue e Gorgonzola | 40 | 42 | 38 | 39 | 24 | 23 | -4,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Italian Romano & Similar | 31 | 26 | 23 | 27 | 15 | 15 | -1,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Gouda | 26 | 28 | 28 | 36 | 22 | 24 | +9,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Brick | 0,9 | 0,7 | 0,7 | 0,8 | ||||||
| Altri formaggi | 114 | 117 | 114 | 119 | 68 | 68 | -0,7% | Jan- 2025 | ||
| Cottage Cream | 154 | 156 | 171 | 191 | 111 | 122 | +10,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Cottage Curd | 163 | 164 | 181 | 205 | 117 | 134 | +14,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Cottage Lowfat | 138 | 133 | 152 | 174 | 101 | 108 | +7,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| WMP (whole milk powder) | 67 | 62 | 50 | 51 | 31 | 38 | +23,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| NDM (skimmed milk powder) | 929 | 887 | 847 | 757 | 481 | 480 | -0,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| SMP (skimmed milk powder) | 317 | 298 | 313 | 272 | 164 | 128 | -21,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Whey powder | 405 | 415 | 425 | 387 | 236 | 221 | -6,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Condensed milk (Whole and Skimmed Canned Milk) | 249 | 253 | ||||||||
| Lactose | 509 | 504 | 501 | 503 | 295 | 300 | +1,8% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| WPC (Whey Protein Concentrate) | 210 | 205 | 229 | 225 | 132 | 129 | -1,9% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| WPI 90 (Whey Protein Isolated) | 59 | 59 | 64 | 87 | 50 | 55 | +10,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Yogurt | 2.152 | 2.026 | 2.082 | 2.213 | 1.290 | 1.394 | +8,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Frozen Yogurt (Mio Litri) | 153 | 144 | 160 | 143 | 88 | 94 | +7,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Ice cream, regular, hard (Mio Litri) | 2.726 | 2.830 | 2.657 | 2.789 | 1.674 | 1.652 | -1,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Ice cream lowfat, total (Mio Litri) | 1.808 | 1.687 | 1.707 | 1.559 | 974 | 944 | -3,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Ice cream, lowfat, hard (Mio Litri) | 865 | 823 | 860 | 788 | 490 | 477 | -2,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Ice cream, lowfat, soft (Mio Litri) | 943 | 863 | 846 | 771 | 484 | 467 | -3,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| Ice cream, nonfat, hard (Mio Litri) | 25 | 32 | 30 | 23 | 14 | 13 | -1,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | ||
| EXPORT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | % | Period | ||
| Bulk and pack. milk (HS 040110+040120) |
|
120 | 122 | 103 | 114 | 65 | 66 | +0,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Cream (HS 040130+040140+040150) |
|
26 | 28 | 37 | 40 | 22 | 24 | +11,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Condensed milk (HS 040291+040299) |
|
16 | 20 | 22 | 18 | 11 | 17 | +52,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Butter (HS 0405) |
|
57 | 69 | 36 | 47 | 25 | 62 | +150,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Anhydrous Milk Fat (HS 040590) |
|
13 | 16 | 6,1 | 14 | 6,6 | 21 | +223,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Cheese (HS 0406) |
|
404 | 454 | 435 | 514 | 307 | 349 | +13,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) |
|
880 | 837 | 809 | 744 | 448 | 393 | -12,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) |
|
39 | 39 | 26 | 25 | 15 | 23 | +52,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Whey powder (HS 0404) |
|
592 | 663 | 534 | 560 | 332 | 328 | -1,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) |
|
551 | 615 | 490 | 515 | 305 | 298 | -2,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Casein (HS 350110) |
|
1,8 | 2,1 | 1,1 | 6,1 | 3,3 | 3,9 | +21,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Caseinates (HS 350190) |
|
2,1 | 2,5 | 2,6 | 3,3 | 1,8 | 3,4 | +85,8% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) |
|
322 | 413 | 434 | 409 | 239 | 237 | -0,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Lactose edible (HS 170299) |
|
69 | 40 | 37 | 24 | 12 | 15 | +23,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Infant milk formula (HS 190110) |
|
28 | 29 | 28 | 25 | 14 | 15 | +3,8% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Yogurt e latticello (HS 0403) |
|
41 | 41 | 48 | 61 | 34 | 41 | +22,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) |
|
162 | 175 | 168 | 162 | 92 | 96 | +4,4% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) |
|
65 | 65 | 76 | 89 | 50 | 56 | +10,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| IMPORT | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | % | Period | ||
| Bulk and pack. milk (HS 040110+040120) |
|
35 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 14 | 15 | +5,7% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Cream (HS 040130+040140+040150) |
|
19 | 32 | 58 | 54 | 27 | 30 | +11,6% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Condensed milk (HS 040291+040299) |
|
23 | 37 | 37 | 48 | 27 | 30 | +10,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Butter (HS 0405) |
|
63 | 73 | 81 | 109 | 60 | 48 | -20,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Anhydrous Milk Fat (HS 040590) |
|
14 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 12 | -26,4% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Cheese (HS 0406) |
|
188 | 189 | 193 | 215 | 116 | 114 | -2,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) |
|
0,4 | 0,6 | 0,8 | 0,6 | 0,3 | 1,6 | +419,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) |
|
12 | 16 | 14 | 18 | 10 | 15 | +48,8% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Whey powder (HS 0404) |
|
84 | 79 | 81 | 97 | 57 | 59 | +2,1% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) |
|
44 | 44 | 44 | 46 | 27 | 29 | +8,3% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Casein (HS 350110) |
|
53 | 81 | 51 | 38 | 26 | 24 | -8,4% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Caseinates (HS 350190) |
|
22 | 24 | 31 | 23 | 13 | 14 | +5,2% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) |
|
2,9 | 3,2 | 3,3 | 3,0 | 1,5 | 1,6 | +11,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Lactose edible (HS 170299) |
|
0,4 | 0,5 | 0,8 | 0,4 | 0,3 | 0,1 | -50,8% | Jan-Jun 2025 | |
| Infant milk formula (HS 190110) |
|
17 | 42 | 40 | 61 | 38 | 37 | -3,0% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Yogurt e latticello (HS 0403) |
|
27 | 35 | 41 | 49 | 28 | 36 | +29,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) |
|
230 | 255 | 252 | 269 | 153 | 150 | -1,4% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) |
|
14 | 11 | 9,9 | 16 | 9,7 | 12 | +20,5% | Jan-Jul 2025 | |
| STOCK (al 31 December) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025 | % | Period | ||
| Butter | 90 | 98 | 91 | 97 | 160 | 150 | -6,1% | Jul 2025 | ||
| Cheese (no fresh cheese) | 654 | 656 | 654 | 614 | 637 | 642 | +0,9% | Jul 2025 | ||
| SMP Human Use | 115 | 116 | 88 | 92 | 103 | 107 | +4,1% | Jul 2025 | ||
| SMP Animal Use | 2,7 | 3,7 | 2,8 | 3,1 | 5,3 | 3,4 | -35,9% | Jul 2025 | ||
| WMP (Whole Milk Powder) | 11 | 6,9 | 5,9 | 5,6 | 5,2 | 6,2 | +18,3% | Jul 2025 | ||
| Condensed milk (Whole and Skimmed Canned Milk) | 21 | 18 | 18 | 19 | ||||||
| Whey Powder Human Use | 25 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 22 | -18,0% | Jul 2025 | ||
| Whey Powder Animal Use | 0,3 | 0,6 | 1,8 | 1,5 | 1,6 | 0,5 | -67,5% | Jul 2025 | ||
| WPC | 31 | 37 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 26 | +10,0% | Jul 2025 | ||
| I° Classification | ||||||||||
| - WPC Human Use | 30 | 37 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 26 | +11,4% | Jul 2025 | ||
| - WPC Animal Use | 0,7 | 0,4 | 0,8 | 0,7 | 0,8 | 0,5 | -31,9% | Jul 2025 | ||
| 2° Classification | ||||||||||
| - WPC 25-49.9% s.s. | 11 | 13 | 11 | 9,9 | 8,5 | 11 | +24,7% | Jul 2025 | ||
| - WPC 50-89.9% s.s. | 21 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | +1,8% | Jul 2025 | ||
| Lactose | 76 | 78 | 49 | 48 | 54 | 43 | -20,2% | Jul 2025 | ||
| DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION (Source: FAS-USDA) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025(f) | % | Period | ||
| Cheese | 5.964 | 6.079 | 6.131 | 6.147 | 6.147 | 6.216 | +1,1% | Jan-Dec 2025 | Butter | 982 | 937 | 1.012 | 1.082 | 1.082 | 1.123 | +3,8% | Jan-Dec 2025 | SMP | 388 | 353 | 384 | 295 | 295 | 377 | +27,8% | Jan-Dec 2025 | WMP | 34 | 40 | 36 | 48 | 48 | 51 | +6,3% | Jan-Dec 2025 |
| PER CAPITA CONSUMPTIONS (kg) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025(f) | % | Period | ||
| Cheese | 17,53 | 17,80 | 17,85 | 17,80 | ||||||
| Butter | 2,89 | 2,74 | 2,95 | 3,13 | ||||||
| SMP | 1,14 | 1,03 | 1,12 | 0,85 | ||||||
| WMP | 0,10 | 0,12 | 0,10 | 0,14 | ||||||
| % Self-sufficiency | 100,1% | 100,1% | 100,1% | 100,1% | ||||||
| SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | 2025(f) | % | Period | ||
| GDP (gross domestic product) | 6,15% | 2,52% | 2,93% | 2,80% | 2,80% | 1,70% | Jan-Dic 2025 | |||
| CPI (consumer price index) | 4,70% | 8,00% | 4,12% | 3,00% | 3,00% | 2,90% | Jan-Dic 2025 | |||
| Population ('000) | 340.161 | 341.534 | 343.477 | 345.427 | ||||||
| GDP per capita (U.S. dollars) | 70.160 (e) | 76.349 (e) | 80.035 (e) | |||||||
| GDP per capita (€) * | 59.320(e) | 72.502(e) | 74.018(e) | |||||||
* Per capita GDP in Euro is calculated by using the yearly average exchange rate
(p): partial data
(f): forecast
** Fluid Grade
NOTE:Per capita consumptions are obtained dividing total consumption (Source FAS-USDA ) by the population (Source FAO)
| METRIC CONVERSION FACTORS | ||||
| 1 Hectare = 2.4710 Acres; 1 Kilogram = 2.2046 Pounds | ||||
| 1 Metric Ton | := | Domestic Unit | * | Factor |
| Wheat & Soybeans | := | bushels | * | 0.027216 |
| Rice | := | cwt | * | 0.045359 |
| Rapeseed & Sunflowerseed | := | cwt | * | 0.045359 |
| Corn, Sorghum & Rye | := | bushels | * | 0.025401 |
| Barley | := | bushels | * | 0.021772 |
| Oats | := | bushels | * | 0.014515 |
| Sugar | := | short tons | * | 0.907185 |
| Cotton | := | 480-lb bales | * | 0.217720 |
|
UK cwt: in UK CWT is "long hundred weight" (long is equivalent to gross) = 112 lbs, that equals to 50.8024 Kg. USA cwt : in USA CWT is "short hundred weight" (short is equivalent to net)=100 lbs, that equals to 45.3592 Kg. |
||||
Source:
Raw material area: USDA, ERS; Cow's milk production: National Agricultural Statistics Service
Dairy production: National Agricultural Statistics Service and USDA
Export and Import: Census Bureau
Consumption: FAS-USDA
GDP and CPI: Intesa Sanpaolo
GDP per capita: International Monetary Found
Population: FAO
Note: Self-sufficiency rate = Milk deliveries/(Domestic use in milk equivalent ME)
Domestic use in milk equivalent (ME) = Milk deliveries + Import in ME - Export in ME
The Self-sufficiency rate does not consider the trade of FFMP (fat-filled milk powder) - HS 190190 and the infant milk formula.
Last update: 2025-11-07
| US: Export on Production | |||||
| Product | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Jul 2025 | Jan-Jul 2025 |
| Butter | 7,4% | 3,8% | 4,6% | 15,1% | 9,4% |
| Cheese | 7,1% | 6,8% | 8,0% | 9,5% | 9,1% |
| WMP | 62,8% | 51,5% | 50,4% | 58,1% | 58,9% |
| SMP | 82,4% | 82,9% | 84,1% | 75,8% | 64,5% |
| Whey | 98,6% | 73,6% | 78,1% | 69,8% | 64,8% |
| Lactose | 89,8% | 94,0% | 86,0% | 89,3% | 84,2% |
SMP: SMP+NDM Production, SMP (040210) Export Code
Whey: Whey + WPC (25% - 50%) Production, Whey (0404) Export Code
Lactose: Lactose Production, Lactose edible + pharmaceutical (170211+170219) Export Code










































































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