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Banner image showing assorted cheeses, and a world map with various pinpoint locations. Text reads "U.S. Cheese Exports Hit Record Monthly High as Global Demand Rises"

U.S. Cheese Exports Hit Record Monthly High As Global Demand Rises

HART Insight Summary

Record-setting cheese exports point to continued strength in global demand for U.S. dairy products. Growth across multiple cheese categories, along with expanding international markets, suggests continued pressure and increased demands on production planning and capacity and supply chain coordination. As export volumes increase, consistency in production, product quality, and throughput becomes increasingly important to meet both domestic and global expectations.

Key Takeaways

  • Cheese exports reached an all-time monthly high, up 30% year over year.
  • Growth was supported by multiple categories, including fresh, shredded, and specialty cheeses.
  • Expanding demand across global markets continues to drive export volume.
  • Supply chain disruptions may impact future export performance.

At a Glance

Estimated Reading Time: ≈2 minutes
Original Publish Date: April 10, 2026
Source: Cheese Market News

U.S. dairy exports were up in February, reaching a total of 239,541 metric tons worth $803.9 million, according the latest data released by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. Compared to a year earlier, exports were up 14% by volume (+13% on a milk solids equivalent basis), and 11% by value.

Dairy imports in February totaled 57,560 metric tons, down 20% from a year earlier, and were valued at $345.9 million, down 22% from last February.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) notes that with just 28 days in the month, U.S. cheese exports set not only a February record, but an all-time high for any month. February cheese exports totaled 58,406 metric tons, up 30% from a year earlier, and up 6% from the prior record set last November.

Cheese exports were up particularly in Latin American countries as well as in Japan and Australia, with more nominal growth across a number of other countries, USDEC reports. Product variety also helped support growth, with fresh cheese exports up 36%, shredded cheese up 26% and exports of other cheeses, mostly specialty and Gouda, up 22%, USDEC adds.

“Looking ahead, it seems likely that U.S. cheese exports will continue to surge this year and likely beyond,” USDEC says in its U.S. Dairy Exporter Blog. “Milk production remains robust across the country, and with several major cheese production facilities still ramping up, output is expected to remain upbeat throughout 2026. Even as domestic consumption has shown an encouraging improvement early in the year, the U.S. is nevertheless expected to have sufficient cheese available to continue meeting rapidly expanding global demand.”

Butter and milk fat exports in February rose 77% from a year earlier to 15,331 metric tons, with butter exports nearly doubling from a year earlier. USDEC reports that the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) led butter growth, with shipments up seven-fold, while the increase in anhydrous milk fat (AMF) was split between a number of regions, including Australia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and MENA.

Exports of nonfat dry milk (NDM) in February totaled 52,350 metric tons, up 8% from a year earlier, and whey exports totaled 48,518 metric tons, up 9% from February 2025.

While dairy exports have been strong so far this year, USDEC points out that February was the final month of problem-free shipping to the Middle East.

“Supply chain challenges associated with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz hit full force in March, and we anticipate those challenges will begin to affect volumes when that data is released on May 5,” USDEC says.

Additionally, USDEC notes that U.S. dairy exports in 2025 began picking up in June, so year-over-year exports after that will have higher year-ago numbers.

HART Perspective

Rising export demand places greater emphasis on production reliability and the ability to scale efficiently. As facilities continue to ramp up output, maintaining consistent product quality and minimizing downtime becomes critical to meeting global demand without disruption.

What This Means for Dairy & Cheese Plants

  • Capacity: Increased demand may require higher production output and efficiency.
  • Consistency: Maintaining uniform quality is essential across larger volumes.
  • Throughput: Efficient systems help support growing export volumes.
  • Planning: Anticipating demand shifts and supply chain challenges supports smoother operations.

Attribution

This summary is based on industry reporting originally published by Cheese Market News. HART Design & Manufacturing has added independent analysis and dairy-processing context. The original publishers did not contribute to or review these additions.

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