Mexico Accounts for Quarter of US Dairy Exports

MEXICO - With domestic production not meeting demand, Mexico will continue to import dairy products, principally from the US, reports the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

22 May 2012

1 minute read

North America

In 2011, Mexico became the first $1 billion market for US dairy and related products.

Total US dairy product exports were approximately $1.2 billion.

Non-fat dry milk (NFDM_, cheese and whey accounted for the bulk of the export values and amounted to approximately $600 million, $200 million, and $130 million, respectively.

Through the first three months of 2012, year over year export values are considerably higher than last year and suggest promising opportunities for US dairy products throughout the year. The United States exported $313 million of dairy products in the first three months of 2012 compared to $240 million for the first 3 months of 2011.

The Mexican dairy industry is beginning to invest in publicity and promotion for added-value dairy products. These products, according to industry sources, require lower levels of raw material for their preparation and are more affordable. As such, industry members believe marginal promotion efforts could spur consumption of these products.

In 2010, the total dairy products (UHT and pasteurized fluid milk, cheese, yoghurt, cream, chilled dairy snacks, and condensed/evaporated milk) market size was estimated at U.S. $9.65 billion.