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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 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | ||
| Farms ('000) | 1.901 | 1.897 | 1.882 | 1.867 | ||||||
| Number of cows ('000 head) | 9.405 | 9.344 | 9.369 | 9.564 | 9.474 | 9.666 | +2,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cow's milk production | 102.702 | 102.654 | 102.463 | 105.079 | 70.269 | 72.061 | +2,6% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | 0,0% | -0,2% | +2,6% | |||||||
| Farm-gate milk price € x 100 Kg ** | 53,13 | 41,49 | 45,94 | 41,53 | 43,64 | 37,65 | -13,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| ± % Over the same period of the previous year | -21,9% | +10,7% | -9,6% | |||||||
| Corn price (North West Iowa, IA) (€\Ton) | 267,0 | 214,1 | 155,1 | 145,6 | 148,0 | 132,4 (p) | -10,5% | Jan-Oct 2026 | ||
| Soybeans price (Western Illinois, IL) (€\Ton) | 571,4 | 506,8 | 391,2 | 350,1 | 348,1 | 353,8 (p) | +1,7% | Jan-Oct 2026 | ||
| DAIRY PRODUCTION | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | ||
| Liquid milk | 19.706 | 19.423 | 19.585 | |||||||
| Butter | 934 | 958 | 1.014 | 1.082 | 738 | 782 | +6,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cream Sour | 678 | 691 | 702 | 690 | 450 | 446 | -0,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cheese | 6.389 | 6.421 | 6.458 | 6.713 | 4.433 | 4.535 | +2,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Italian Mozzarella | 2.110 | 2.089 | 2.172 | 2.271 | 1.500 | 1.535 | +2,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cheddar | 1.798 | 1.812 | 1.717 | 1.816 | 1.216 | 1.214 | -0,2% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Americal Colby & Jack & Monterey | 775 | 796 | 812 | 829 | 543 | 543 | +0,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cream & Neufchatel | 507 | 520 | 525 | 517 | 333 | 351 | +5,2% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Italian Parmesan & Similar | 220 | 222 | 203 | 239 | 156 | 188 | +19,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Italian Provolone & Similar | 168 | 171 | 176 | 177 | 117 | 118 | +1,2% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Hispanic | 175 | 190 | 197 | 217 | 143 | 145 | +1,2% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Swiss | 159 | 152 | 163 | 146 | 97 | 101 | +4,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Italian Ricotta & Similar | 112 | 112 | 110 | 112 | 71 | 75 | +5,6% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Muenster | 87 | 92 | 95 | 95 | ||||||
| Feta | 64 | 66 | 70 | 70 | 49 | 48 | -1,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Blue e Gorgonzola | 42 | 38 | 39 | 38 | 26 | 25 | -1,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Italian Romano & Similar | 26 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 16 | 17 | +6,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Gouda | 28 | 29 | 36 | 40 | 27 | 30 | +12,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Brick | 0,7 | 0,7 | 0,8 | 0,8 | ||||||
| Altri formaggi | 117 | 109 | 119 | 122 | 77 | 83 | +8,3% | Jan- 2026 | ||
| Cottage Cream | 156 | 171 | 191 | 214 | 142 | 155 | +9,2% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cottage Curd | 164 | 181 | 205 | 233 | 153 | 178 | +16,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Cottage Lowfat | 133 | 152 | 174 | 192 | 126 | 140 | +10,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| WMP (whole milk powder) | 62 | 50 | 51 | 58 | 42 | 39 | -7,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| NDM (skimmed milk powder) | 887 | 847 | 751 | 752 | 531 | 587 | +10,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| SMP (skimmed milk powder) | 298 | 313 | 272 | 229 | 147 | 116 | -21,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Whey powder | 415 | 425 | 387 | 383 | 259 | 281 | +8,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Condensed milk (Whole and Skimmed Canned Milk) | 253 | |||||||||
| Lactose | 504 | 501 | 503 | 516 | 346 | 335 | -3,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| WPC (Whey Protein Concentrate) | 205 | 229 | 223 | 228 | 152 | 150 | -1,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| WPI 90 (Whey Protein Isolated) | 59 | 65 | 87 | 97 | 62 | 66 | +6,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Yogurt | 2.026 | 2.082 | 2.213 | 2.399 | 1.603 | 1.689 | +5,4% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Frozen Yogurt (Mio Litri) | 144 | 152 | 143 | 129 | 90 | 90 | +0,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Ice cream, regular, hard (Mio Litri) | 2.830 | 2.681 | 2.789 | 2.733 | 1.905 | 1.958 | +2,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Ice cream lowfat, total (Mio Litri) | 1.687 | 1.669 | 1.559 | 1.442 | 1.032 | 1.073 | +4,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Ice cream, lowfat, hard (Mio Litri) | 823 | 847 | 788 | 779 | 548 | 533 | -2,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Ice cream, lowfat, soft (Mio Litri) | 863 | 823 | 771 | 663 | 484 | 541 | +11,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| Ice cream, nonfat, hard (Mio Litri) | 32 | 30 | 23 | 23 | 15 | 16 | +4,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | ||
| EXPORT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | ||
| Bulk and pack. milk (HS 040110+040120) |
|
122 | 103 | 115 | 110 | 75 | 88 | +18,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Cream (HS 040130+040140+040150) |
|
28 | 37 | 40 | 45 | 29 | 35 | +24,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Condensed milk (HS 040291+040299) |
|
20 | 22 | 18 | 26 | 19 | 17 | -10,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Butter (HS 0405) |
|
69 | 36 | 47 | 123 | 73 | 112 | +54,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Anhydrous Milk Fat (HS 040590) |
|
16 | 6,1 | 14 | 38 | 24 | 38 | +55,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Cheese (HS 0406) |
|
454 | 435 | 514 | 617 | 403 | 491 | +21,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) |
|
837 | 809 | 744 | 675 | 449 | 414 | -7,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) |
|
39 | 26 | 25 | 40 | 25 | 28 | +14,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Whey powder (HS 0404) |
|
663 | 534 | 560 | 564 | 376 | 444 | +18,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) |
|
615 | 490 | 515 | 513 | 342 | 412 | +20,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Casein (HS 350110) |
|
2,1 | 1,1 | 6,1 | 5,3 | 4,2 | 2,5 | -40,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Caseinates (HS 350190) |
|
2,5 | 2,6 | 3,3 | 4,8 | 3,6 | 2,7 | -24,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) |
|
413 | 434 | 409 | 402 | 270 | 271 | +0,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Lactose edible (HS 170299) |
|
40 | 37 | 24 | 23 | 17 | 13 | -25,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Infant milk formula (HS 190110) |
|
29 | 28 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 13 | -23,4% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Yogurt e latticello (HS 0403) |
|
41 | 48 | 61 | 76 | 49 | 57 | +15,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) |
|
175 | 168 | 162 | 150 | 106 | 88 | -16,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) |
|
65 | 76 | 89 | 93 | 65 | 48 | -25,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| IMPORT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | ||
| Bulk and pack. milk (HS 040110+040120) |
|
26 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 16 | 13 | -23,4% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Cream (HS 040130+040140+040150) |
|
32 | 58 | 54 | 60 | 37 | 50 | +33,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Condensed milk (HS 040291+040299) |
|
37 | 37 | 48 | 53 | 33 | 31 | -6,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Butter (HS 0405) |
|
73 | 81 | 109 | 68 | 52 | 72 | +38,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Anhydrous Milk Fat (HS 040590) |
|
21 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 13 | 5,8 | -55,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Cheese (HS 0406) |
|
189 | 193 | 215 | 194 | 130 | 134 | +3,2% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| SMP (skimmed milk powder - HS 040210) |
|
0,6 | 0,8 | 0,6 | 3,2 | 1,8 | 2,2 | +17,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| WMP (whole milk powder - HS 040221+040229) |
|
16 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 16 | 13 | -21,6% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Whey powder (HS 0404) |
|
79 | 81 | 97 | 95 | 66 | 65 | -1,3% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| of which: | ||||||||||
| Sweet dairy Whey (12% protein) e WPC (HS 040410) |
|
44 | 44 | 46 | 49 | 33 | 32 | -5,0% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Casein (HS 350110) |
|
81 | 51 | 38 | 40 | 27 | 23 | -15,5% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Caseinates (HS 350190) |
|
24 | 31 | 23 | 21 | 14 | 15 | +4,1% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Lactose pharmaceutical (HS 170211) |
|
3,2 | 3,3 | 3,0 | 2,9 | 2,0 | 1,6 | -18,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Lactose edible (HS 170299) |
|
0,5 | 0,8 | 0,4 | 0,2 | 0,2 | 0,2 | +26,8% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Infant milk formula (HS 190110) |
|
42 | 40 | 61 | 63 | 41 | 33 | -19,4% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Yogurt e latticello (HS 0403) |
|
35 | 41 | 49 | 66 | 42 | 52 | +23,7% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) (HS 190190) |
|
255 | 252 | 270 | 258 | 171 | 164 | -3,9% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) (HS 350220) |
|
11 | 9,9 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 8,7 | -31,6% | Jan-Aug 2026 | |
| STOCK (al 31 December) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026 | % | Period | ||
| Butter | 98 | 91 | 97 | 85 | 130 | 143 | +10,3% | Aug 2026 | ||
| Cheese (no fresh cheese) | 656 | 654 | 614 | 625 | 640 | 654 | +2,3% | Aug 2026 | ||
| SMP Human Use | 116 | 88 | 78 | 97 | 102 | 98 | -3,6% | Aug 2026 | ||
| SMP Animal Use | 3,7 | 2,8 | 3,1 | 1,6 | 1,7 | 2,3 | +38,5% | Aug 2026 | ||
| WMP (Whole Milk Powder) | 6,9 | 5,9 | 5,6 | 8,3 | 5,9 | 6,6 | +12,8% | Aug 2026 | ||
| Condensed milk (Whole and Skimmed Canned Milk) | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | ||||||
| Whey Powder Human Use | 31 | 30 | 26 | 27 | 22 | 27 | +22,1% | Aug 2026 | ||
| Whey Powder Animal Use | 0,6 | 1,8 | 1,5 | 0,4 | 0,5 | 0,4 | -1,9% | Aug 2026 | ||
| WPC | 37 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 23 | -0,1% | Aug 2026 | ||
| I° Classification | ||||||||||
| - WPC Human Use | 37 | 27 | 26 | 20 | 23 | 22 | -0,2% | Aug 2026 | ||
| - WPC Animal Use | 0,4 | 0,8 | 0,7 | 1,2 | 0,7 | 0,7 | +1,7% | Aug 2026 | ||
| 2° Classification | ||||||||||
| - WPC 25-49.9% s.s. | 13 | 11 | 9,9 | 7,1 | 9,8 | 8,1 | -16,7% | Aug 2026 | ||
| - WPC 50-89.9% s.s. | 24 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | +11,9% | Aug 2026 | ||
| Lactose | 78 | 49 | 48 | 40 | 44 | 43 | -2,0% | Aug 2026 | ||
| DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION (Source: FAS-USDA) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026(f) | % | Period | ||
| Cheese | 6.079 | 6.131 | 6.146 | 6.227 | 6.227 | 6.214 | -0,2% | Jan-Dec 2026 | Butter | 928 | 1.004 | 1.067 | 1.002 | 1.002 | 1.043 | +4,1% | Jan-Dec 2026 | SMP | 353 | 386 | 285 | 300 | 300 | 388 | +29,3% | Jan-Dec 2026 | WMP | 40 | 36 | 40 | 36 | 36 | 33 | -8,3% | Jan-Dec 2026 |
| PER CAPITA CONSUMPTIONS (kg) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026(f) | % | Period | ||
| Cheese | 17,80 | 17,85 | 17,79 | 17,93 | ||||||
| Butter | 2,72 | 2,92 | 3,09 | 2,89 | ||||||
| SMP | 1,03 | 1,12 | 0,83 | 0,86 | ||||||
| WMP | 0,12 | 0,10 | 0,12 | 0,10 | ||||||
| % Self-sufficiency | 100,1% | 100,1% | 100,1% | 100,1% | ||||||
| SOCIO-ECONOMIC INDICATORS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2025 | 2026(f) | % | Period | ||
| GDP (gross domestic product) | 2,52% | 2,93% | 2,79% | 2,11% | 2,11% | 2,15% | Jan-Dic 2026 | |||
| CPI (consumer price index) | 8,00% | 4,12% | 2,95% | 2,69% | 2,69% | 3,24% | Jan-Dic 2026 | |||
| Population ('000) | 341.534 | 343.477 | 345.427 | 347.276 | ||||||
| GDP per capita (U.S. dollars) | 77.801 | 82.254 | 85.812 (e) | 89.105 (e) | ||||||
| GDP per capita (€) * | 73.882 | 76.070 | 79.254(e) | 78.855(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)
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: 2026-10-09
* 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: 2026-10-09
| US: Export on Production | |||||
| Product | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Aug 2026 | Jan-Aug 2026 |
| Butter | 8,5% | 10,7% | 6,3% | 11,9% | 9,2% |
| Cheese | 3,0% | 3,3% | 2,9% | 3,4% | 3,0% |
| WMP | 28,2% | 36,6% | 37,5% | 34,8% | 33,0% |
| SMP | 0,1% | 0,1% | 0,4% | 0,2% | 0,3% |
| Whey | 10,3% | 12,5% | 12,2% | 11,1% | 10,7% |
| Lactose | 0,8% | 0,7% | 0,6% | 0,5% | 0,6% |
| US: Export on Production | |||||
| Product | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Aug 2026 | Jan-Aug 2026 |
| Butter | 3,8% | 4,6% | 11,4% | 12,1% | 14,4% |
| Cheese | 6,8% | 8,0% | 9,2% | 10,5% | 10,8% |
| WMP | 51,5% | 50,4% | 67,9% | 69,5% | 73,2% |
| SMP | 84,0% | 85,8% | 77,8% | 62,5% | 58,8% |
| Whey | 68,0% | 72,4% | 72,0% | 81,0% | 72,6% |
| Lactose | 94,0% | 86,0% | 82,4% | 84,3% | 84,9% |
NOTE:
SMP: SMP+NDM Production, SMP (040210) Import/Export Code
Whey: Whey + WPC (25% - 50%) Production, Whey (0404) Import/Export Code
Lactose: Lactose Production, Lactose edible + pharmaceutical (170211+170219) Import/Export Code