MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  March 11, 2015 (REPORT 10)                         


NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      

Milk supplies are enabling heavy seasonal production for most cheese 
operations in the region.  Orders from contracted customers remain good, 
as an early Easter holiday stimulates current interest.  Export demand is 
discouraged by competitive global prices and the strength of the dollar.    
In general, most buyers are exercising caution with purchases, while not 
altogether sure when the market will reach its bottom.  This week, the 
Northeast wholesale cheese prices for cheddar, muenster and process 5# 
sliced rose $0.0075.  Prices for Grade A Swiss Cuts 10-14# declined 
$0.4575, the result of lagging adjustments based on Class III component 
prices.  Tuesday's CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels close at 
$1.5450, up $0.0525 from a week ago; blocks closed at $1.5650, up $0.0200 
from a week ago.  According to the DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, for 
March 6-12, the national weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. 
cheese blocks in the Northeast is $2.50; 17 cents more than the national 
average and 27 cents more than a week ago.  The Southeast 8 oz. block 
cheese price was $2.07, 10 cents more than the previous week.  The 
Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports that January 2015 U.S. cheese 
and curd exports totaled 52.4 million pounds, a 26% drop from a year ago.
DAIRY PRODUCTS:  According to NASS, U.S. total cheese production in 
January 2015 was 980.1 million pounds, 2.8% more than a year ago.  In the 
Atlantic region, total cheese production was 123.0 million pounds, 6.3% 
more than a year ago but 0.8% less than the previous month.  Total cheese 
production and percentage change from one year ago for Eastern states 
are: New York 66.9 million pounds, +9.4%; Pennsylvania 38.6 million 
pounds, +6.4%; and Vermont 10.7 million pounds, +1.9%.  


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

                 (Million Lb.)   % Change From 
                                   1 Year Ago

January             52.4              -  26

Total Jan.-Jan.     52.4              -  26

1 South Korea       14.0              +  37
2 Mexico            12.8              -  22
3 Japan              6.9              +   5
4 Australia          2.0              -  52
5 Canada             1.5              -  49




WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.9500-2.2350     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.7175-2.1975     
Muenster                                     : 1.9700-2.3200     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.4350-3.7575     
 

1100CT Daniel.Johnson@ams.usda.gov 608.278.4156
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
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