MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  May 06, 2015 (REPORT 18)                           


NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      

Cheese production is strong as output exceeds year ago levels.  Increased 
milk intakes are keeping most facilities busy as major plants run full.  
Mozzarella sales through food service channels are declining as schools 
and universities end for the summer.  Provolone sales are good.  Cheese 
contracts are moving with moderate to good demand.  Spot sales are 
intermittent.  Inventories are building.  This week, wholesale cheese 
prices for cheddar and muenster rose $0.0075, but prices for process 5# 
sliced declined $0.0050.  Grade A Swiss prices moved lower $0.0800 
prompted by adjustments based on lagging Class III component prices.
According to the DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, for May 1-7, the 
Northeast weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks was 
$2.31, 4 cents more than the national average but 2 cents less than a 
week ago.  The Southeast 8 oz. block cheese price was $2.34, 16 cents 
less than the previous week.  The CME Group monthly average price for 
cheese blocks during April 2015 was $1.5890, compared to $2.2439 one year 
ago; barrels averaged $1.6135, compared to $2.1842 one year ago.  The CME 
Group daily cash price on Tuesday saw barrels close at $1.6150, down 
$0.0025 from a week ago, blocks closed at $1.6100, unchanged from a week 
ago.  The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) reports that March 2015 U.S. 
cheese and curd exports totaled 75.6 million pounds, a 5% drop from a 
year ago.
DAIRY PRODUCTS:  According to NASS, U.S. total cheese production in March 
2015 was 987.2 million pounds, 1.8% more than a year ago.  In the 
Atlantic region, total cheese production for March 2015 was 118.7 million 
pounds, 3.6% less than a year ago but 8.9% more than the previous month.  
Total cheese production and percentage change from one year ago for 
Eastern states are: New York 68.0 million pounds, +1.7%; Pennsylvania 
33.1 million pounds, -11.4%; and Vermont 10.5 million pounds, +6.8%.  



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

                    (Million Lb.)   % Change From 
                                      1 Year Ago

March                  75.6              -   5

Total Jan. - Mar.     193.2              -  12
   1 Mexico            49.6              +   5
   2 South Korea       45.3              +  37
   3 Japan             22.8              -  25
   4 Australia         11.5              -   5
   5 China              7.8              +   7

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.0075-2.2925     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.8425-2.3225     
Muenster                                     : 2.0275-2.3775     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.1725-3.4950     


1100CT Daniel.Johnson@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7006
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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