In 2022, agricultural exports from the United States, including dairy, established a new high in both value and volume. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (Feb. 7, 2023), U.S. dairy exports to the globe totalled $9.5 billion last year, exceeding the 2021 dairy export value record by 25% and indicating an 85% rise in only the previous ten years. Furthermore, US dairy exports reached 2.82 million metric tonnes in 2022, a new high and a 52% rise over the previous ten years.
The International Dairy Foods Association’s president and CEO, Michael Dykes, D.V.M., is overjoyed with the news.
“Today’s export results underscore the speed at which the U.S. dairy sector is innovating and capitalising on chances to market U.S.-made dairy products worldwide. Consumers in the United States and throughout the globe continue to want more American dairy because we provide a diverse range of tasty, healthy, economical, and sustainable dairy products. From high-value whey to award-winning cheeses, milk powders used to manufacture life-saving products for children and adults to safe and nutritious, shelf-stable milk, U.S. dairy is renowned across the globe for its quality and dependability. Because of the tenacity and ingenuity of American dairy exporters and dairy foods firms, we are set to become the world’s largest provider of dairy products.
“As we look into the export statistics revealed today, we notice that U.S. dairy exports touched a record $9.51 billion in 2022, exceeding the previous high of $7.61 billion established in 2021. While inflation affected export prices, overall dairy export volume reached a new high, surpassing the previous record of 2.67 million metric tonnes established in 2021. Export volumes to our main four international dairy markets—Mexico, Canada, China, and the Philippines—all reached new highs. The figures are startling since the market for dairy products in the United States was virtually completely domestic only three decades ago. The dairy sector in the United States today exports around 18% of total milk output.
“As U.S. milk output continues to climb over the next decade while other dairy-producing rivals experience diminishing production, the U.S. government must assure there are operating, efficient routes for U.S. dairy exports to satisfy rising worldwide demand. IDFA encourages the Biden Administration and Congress to explore additional free trade agreements in developing regions for US dairy and to continue to hold trading partners with whom we have agreements to their promises.”
President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, Jim Mulhern, is likewise pleased with the results.
“For the third consecutive year, U.S. dairy farmers have proved how their devotion to innovation and sustainability leadership progressively have made them the world’s source of choice for healthy dairy products. U.S. sales are at all-time highs in both value and volume, and a record proportion of U.S. milk output will be shipped internationally in 2022. This occurred despite the hurdles our exporters faced last year, which included supply chain issues, a lack of new trade agreements to promote more fair playing fields overseas, and other trade restrictions that threatened to derail progress.
“Let this be a signal to the world: U.S. dairy farmers are, and will be, a rising force for global nutrition, sustainability and health, as indicated by the increasing preference of customers globally for the goods they generate. We’re delighted to see today’s year-end export totals reflect a goal we’ve been pursuing for decades, and we look forward to seeing greater growth in the years ahead.”
