MD_DA830                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA830 Cheese - Midwest                                        

MADISON, WI.  September 09, 2015 (REPORT 36)                     

MIDWEST CHEESE:                                                  

Adequate milk supplies continue to flow into cheese vats. Cheese production is steady. 
Some processors report a little lull in sales. Industry contacts note there is plenty 
of cheese available. Although inventory levels are a little higher, they have not 
concerned many cheese makers because of the anticipated increase in cheese demand from 
football season, school meal programs and the upcoming Q4 holidays. The DMN National 
Retail Report - Dairy shows that September 4 - 10 Midwest ads for 8 ounce shred cheese 
have a weighted average advertised price of $2.07, 19 cents lower than the national 
average. Midwest prices range from $1.49 - $2.79. One year ago, the national price was 
$2.40. For 8 ounce blocks, the Midwest average price is $2.01, 13 cents lower than the 
national average price. Midwest ads are priced from $1.67 - $2.50. Last year, the 
national price was $2.39. Midwestern wholesale prices are up $.0600 for Swiss cuts, up 
$.0475 for process, and up $.0325 for all other types. Dairy Products (NASS) reports 
July 2015 U.S. total cheese production, 988.4 million pounds, is 3.1% more than a year 
ago and is 2.5% above June this year. In the Central U.S., cheese production for July 
2015 compared with July 2014 was: total cheese, +5.4%; American, +4.2%; cheddar, 
+4.2%; total Italian, +7.7%; and mozzarella, +4.9%. The CME Group August 2015 monthly 
average price for barrels, $1.6689, is above $1.6313 in July, but below $2.1961 in 
August one year ago. Blocks' August average price, $1.7111, is up from $1.6659 in 
July, but down from $2.1820 one year ago. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels 
closed at $1.6700, unchanged from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.6950, down 
$.0050. 

WISCONSIN WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED,                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Process American 5# Loaf                   : 1.7575-2.1175       
Brick And/Or Muenster 5#                   : 2.0900-2.5150       
Cheddar 40# Block                          : 1.8175-2.2125       
Monterey Jack 10#                          : 2.0650-2.2700       
Blue 5#                                    : 2.3575-3.3450       
Mozzarella 5 - 6# (Low Moisture, Part Skim): 1.8900-2.8300       
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                  : 2.8300-2.9475       


2015 U.S. Cheese and Curd Exports (USDA-FAS)

        2015 Exports	 % Change From 
        (Million Lb.)	 1 Year Ago

July Total			 56.3			 - 21

TOTAL, JAN - JULY		 442.2			 - 13

1 Mexico			 121.7			 + 15
2 South Korea			 88.1			 - 7
3 Japan			 50.8			 - 37
4 Australia			 26.9			 + 6
5 China			 17.3			 - 2


1300C Mike.Bandli@ams.usda.gov  608-557-7010
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