< >
The August 2025 trade will be released as soon as the U.S. Census Bureau makes the data available.

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.

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)
TOP importers
120 122 103 114 65 66 +0,6% Jan-Jul 2025
Cream (HS 040130+040140+040150)
TOP importers
26 28 37 40 22 24 +11,5% Jan-Jul 2025
Condensed milk (HS 040291+040299)
TOP importers
16 20 22 18 11 17 +52,6% Jan-Jul 2025
Butter (HS 0405)
TOP importers
57 69 36 47 25 62 +150,3% Jan-Jul 2025
of which:
Anhydrous Milk Fat (HS 040590)
TOP importers
13 16 6,1 14 6,6 21 +223,1% Jan-Jul 2025
Cheese (HS 0406)
TOP importers
404 454 435 514 307 349 +13,6% Jan-Jul 2025
SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210)
TOP importers
880 837 809 744 448 393 -12,3% Jan-Jul 2025
WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229)
TOP importers
39 39 26 25 15 23 +52,6% Jan-Jul 2025
Whey powder (HS 0404)
TOP importers
592 663 534 560 332 328 -1,1% Jan-Jul 2025
of which:
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410)
TOP importers
551 615 490 515 305 298 -2,1% Jan-Jul 2025
Casein (HS 350110)
TOP importers
1,8 2,1 1,1 6,1 3,3 3,9 +21,0% Jan-Jul 2025
Caseinates (HS 350190)
TOP importers
2,1 2,5 2,6 3,3 1,8 3,4 +85,8% Jan-Jul 2025
Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211)
TOP importers
322 413 434 409 239 237 -0,5% Jan-Jul 2025
Lactose edible (HS 170299)
TOP importers
69 40 37 24 12 15 +23,7% Jan-Jul 2025
Infant milk formula (HS 190110)
TOP importers
28 29 28 25 14 15 +3,8% Jan-Jul 2025
Yogurt e latticello (HS 0403)
TOP importers
41 41 48 61 34 41 +22,2% Jan-Jul 2025
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190)
TOP importers
162 175 168 162 92 96 +4,4% Jan-Jul 2025
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220)
TOP importers
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)
TOP exporters
35 26 24 24 14 15 +5,7% Jan-Jul 2025
Cream (HS 040130+040140+040150)
TOP exporters
19 32 58 54 27 30 +11,6% Jan-Jul 2025
Condensed milk (HS 040291+040299)
TOP exporters
23 37 37 48 27 30 +10,5% Jan-Jul 2025
Butter (HS 0405)
TOP exporters
63 73 81 109 60 48 -20,0% Jan-Jul 2025
of which:
Anhydrous Milk Fat (HS 040590)
TOP exporters
14 21 19 21 16 12 -26,4% Jan-Jul 2025
Cheese (HS 0406)
TOP exporters
188 189 193 215 116 114 -2,0% Jan-Jul 2025
SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210)
TOP exporters
0,4 0,6 0,8 0,6 0,3 1,6 +419,5% Jan-Jul 2025
WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229)
TOP exporters
12 16 14 18 10 15 +48,8% Jan-Jul 2025
Whey powder (HS 0404)
TOP exporters
84 79 81 97 57 59 +2,1% Jan-Jul 2025
of which:
Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410)
TOP exporters
44 44 44 46 27 29 +8,3% Jan-Jul 2025
Casein (HS 350110)
TOP exporters
53 81 51 38 26 24 -8,4% Jan-Jul 2025
Caseinates (HS 350190)
TOP exporters
22 24 31 23 13 14 +5,2% Jan-Jul 2025
Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211)
TOP exporters
2,9 3,2 3,3 3,0 1,5 1,6 +11,0% Jan-Jul 2025
Lactose edible (HS 170299)
TOP exporters
0,4 0,5 0,8 0,4 0,3 0,1 -50,8% Jan-Jun 2025
Infant milk formula (HS 190110)
TOP exporters
17 42 40 61 38 37 -3,0% Jan-Jul 2025
Yogurt e latticello (HS 0403)
TOP exporters
27 35 41 49 28 36 +29,5% Jan-Jul 2025
Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190)
TOP exporters
230 255 252 269 153 150 -1,4% Jan-Jul 2025
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220)
TOP exporters
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)
(e): estimated
* 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)

Vedi Metric Conversion Factors
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%
NOTE:
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
NOTE: Access to World Dairy Trade, which also contains the processing of Import / Export of the United States with MONTHLY UPDATES, is reserved for Supporters of CLAL.it