MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  January 25, 2017 (REPORT 4)                        


NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      

Cheese production, overall, translates to increases along seasonal 
patterns, as volumes align with milk receipts. Cheese stocks within 
the region are mostly adequate. Cheese cutters/packagers are busy as 
retail orders remain fairly strong, while bolstered by preparations 
for Super Bowl weekend festivities. Foodservice interest is holding  
well. The market undertone is unsettled. This week, Northeast 
wholesale cheese prices saw declines as cheddar and Muenster dipped 
$0.0150, along with a $0.0375 skid in the 5# sliced process cheese 
price. The Grade A Swiss price is unchanged. Tuesday's CME Group daily 
cash prices saw barrels close at $1.4800, down $0.1575 from a week 
ago. Blocks closed at $1.6400, down $0.0650 from a week ago. The DMN 
National Retail Report-Dairy, for January 20-26, 2017, noted the 
Northeast weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks 
was $2.33, 13 cents above the national average, with a regional price 
range of $1.99-$2.79. The Southeast 8 oz. block average price was 
$2.26, 6 cents above the national average, with a regional price range 
of $1.67-$2.50. The Northeast average advertised price for 8 oz. 
cheese shreds was $2.24, 2 cents above the national average price, 
with a regional price range of $1.50-$2.50. In the Southeast, the 
average price for 8 oz. shreds was $2.27, 5 cents above the national 
average, with prices ranging $1.67-$2.50. The Foreign Agricultural 
Service (FAS) reports that December 2016 U.S. cheese and curd imports 
totaled 30.2 million pounds, a 38.1% increase from a year ago, and 
10.1% of the yearly quota. 
COLD STORAGE: According to NASS, U.S. stocks of total natural cheese 
as of December, 2016 totaled 1.207 billion pounds, 2% more than the 
previous month, and 5% higher from a year ago. Swiss cheese totaled 
24.6 million pounds, even from a year ago, but down 1% from last 
month.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.1675-2.4525     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.7200-2.2000     
Muenster                                     : 2.1525-2.5025     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.0950-3.4175     


2016 U.S. Cheese Imports (USDA-FAS)


                 2016 Imports      % Change From      % of
                 (Million Lb.)       1 Year Ago       Yearly Quota

December Quota	    30.2		+ 38.1	         10.1

TOTAL, Jan - DEC
High Tier        Not available at time of publication.
Quota               232.2	        +  3.3	         77.7
 

1100CT daniel@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