MD_DA128                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA128 Cheddar Cheese - Oceania                                

MADISON, WI.  March 02, 2017 (REPORT 9)                          

OCEANIA                                                          
INFORMATION GATHERED  02/20/2017 - 03/03/2017                    
U.S. DOLLARS PER METRIC TON, FOB PORT                            

CHEDDAR CHEESE:     

Oceania cheddar prices slightly weakened but overall, during the 
coming weeks, the market is expected to be steady going forward. 
Market dynamics are different in Australia and New Zealand. New 
Zealand exports over twice as much cheese as Australia. 
Considering that Australia has multiples the population of New 
Zealand, this illustrates the significance of domestic cheese 
sales for Australia. Domestic cheddar sales in Australia have 
continued to grow. Cheese manufacturers cite steady growth in 
cheese sales throughout 2016, both volumes and revenues. That 
has been a factor leading to lower cheese exports recently.

Australia cheese exports during 2016, 167,160 MT, were 2.1% 
lower than during 2015 according to Eucolait. Main destinations 
were Japan, 49.1%; China, 11.9%; and Malaysia, 5.1%.

New Zealand cheese exports during 2016, 369,140 MT, were 13% 
higher than during 2015 according to Eucolait. Main destinations 
were Australia, 17.5%; Japan, 17.3%; and China, 14.6%.

At GDT Event 182 on February 21, the cheddar all contracts price 
declined 5.3% and the March contract price decreased 2.9%.

                                                                 
39% MAXIMUM MOISTURE:                    3,750 - 3,925           

0930c eric.graf@ams.usda.gov 
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy
Dairy Market News database portal: 
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home