MD_DA128                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA128 Cheddar Cheese - Oceania                                

MADISON, WI.  May 11, 2017 (REPORT 19)                           

OCEANIA                                                          
INFORMATION GATHERED  05/01/2017 - 05/12/2017                    
U.S. DOLLARS PER METRIC TON, FOB PORT                            

CHEDDAR CHEESE:                                                  
                                                                 
      Oceania cheddar prices firmed at each end of the price 
range. The continuing tightness of dairy fat supplies in Oceania 
is helping price strength. Consumer demand for cheese is also 
cited as a factor in price strength. However, export sales have 
been weaker in 2017. 
     New Zealand exports of cheese year to date January-March 
2017 declined 13.1% from the same period one year earlier, 
according to Eucolait. Export volumes and primary destinations 
are shown in the following table:
 
 			New Zealand Cheese Exports
			  Main Three Destinations 
        		    January-March 2017 
 
Destination  	Quantity (MT)  % of Total  
Australia		17,728  		19.9% 
Japan 		15,199  		17.1% 
China		12,493  		14.0%
 

      A positive factor in cheese exports is the strength of 
imports by China. Imports of cheese by China increased 16.9% 
January-March this year compared with the same period last year. 
The majority is sourced in Oceania.

      China Cheese Imports
      		 Main Three Origins
      	      January-March 2017 
 
Origin  		Quantity (MT)  % of Total  
New Zealand	15,221  		54.1% 
Australia		 6,249  		22.2% 
United States	 2,428  		 8.6%







      The Dairy Market News April 2017 Oceania cheddar monthly 
average price per metric ton was $3,438, compared with $2,586 
one year earlier.
      At GDT Event 187 on May 2, the cheddar all contracts price 
increased 4.6% and the June contract price increased 3.7%. 

39% MAXIMUM MOISTURE:                    3,575 - 3,625           

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