MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  March 23, 2016 (REPORT 12)                         


NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      

Cheese production in the Northeast is steady as plants operate full 
schedules, reflecting current milk supplies. While buyers are wary 
about making purchases beyond near-term needs, mozzarella orders have 
been good, Swiss cheese interest is near expected levels, and cheddar 
demand is steady. Manufacturers are anticipating sales to slow, with 
Holiday orders mostly filled. Export interest in cheese is fairly 
quiet due to current prices. The market undertone remains unsettled.
This week Northeast wholesale prices for 40# block and Muenster 
retreated $0.0250 as process 5# sliced slipped $0.0225. Prices for 
Swiss cheese remained unchanged. According to the DMN National Retail 
Report-Dairy, for March 18-24, 2016, the Northeast weighted average 
advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks was $2.39, 19 cents higher 
than the national average and 12 cents higher than the previous week. 
The Southeast 8 oz. block cheese price was $2.23, down 92 cents from 
the previous week. Tuesday's CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels 
close at $1.4700, up $0.0400 from a week ago; blocks closed at 
$1.4900, up $0.0025 from a week ago.
COLD STORAGE:  According to NASS, U.S. stocks of total natural cheese 
as of February 29, 2016 totaled 1.182 billion pounds, 11% more than a 
year ago, but unchanged from the previous month.  Swiss cheese 
totaled 24.7 million pounds, 5% more than a year ago and 2% above 
last month.  

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.8925-2.1775     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.6475-2.1275     
Muenster                                     : 1.9125-2.2625     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.0550-3.3775     

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