MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  April 05, 2017 (REPORT 14)                         

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Northeastern cheese plant production is active. Milk continues to be 
readily available throughout the region, and the ample volumes are 
clearing to cheese facilities on time. Cheese plants continue to 
operate 7-day workdays. Cheese stocks are building. Domestic cheese 
prices are now competitive with global prices, and the market expects 
interest from global channels to pick up. The market undertone varies, 
with the time and need. This week, a cooperative export assistance 
program accepted requests for export assistance to sell 2.01 million 
pounds (911 metric tons) of cheese. Last week at the CME Group, barrel 
cheese weekly averages increased $0.0150 and block weekly averages 
increased $0.0400. With the result of the weekly averages, there is an 
upward shift in the East wholesale cheese prices for blocks, process 
slices and Muenster. Tuesday's CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels 
close at $1.4800, up $0.1100 from a week ago; blocks closed at 
$1.5200, up $0.0750 from a week ago. The CME Group March 2017 monthly 
average price for barrels was $1.4072, down from $1.4530 a year ago; 
blocks' average price was $1.4342, down from $1.4877 a year ago. The 
DMN Northeast March 2017 monthly average price for cheddar blocks is 
$2.0529, compared to $2.0357 one year ago. Processed 5# sliced average 
price is $1.8099, down from $1.8933 one year ago. The DMN National 
Retail Report-Dairy, for March 31 to April 6, 2017, noted the 
Northeast weighted average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese blocks 
was $2.27, 8 cents above the national average, with a regional price 
range of $1.77-$2.99. The Southeast 8 oz. block average price was 
$2.33, 14 cents above the national average, with a regional price 
range of $1.88-$2.50. The Northeast average advertised price for 8 oz. 
cheese shreds was $2.23, 3 cents above the national average price, 
with a regional price range of $1.48-$2.50. In the Southeast, the 
average price for 8 oz. shreds was $2.42, 22 cents above the national 
average, with prices ranging $1.88-$2.50. 

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.9325-2.2175     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.5425-2.0225     
Muenster                                     : 1.9175-2.2675     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.3800-3.7025    

2017 U.S. Cheese and Curd Exports (USDA-FAS)

                 2017 Exports      % Change From 
                 (Million Lb.)       1 Year Ago

February             58.1            +  8

TOTAL, JAN - FEB    108.1            +  6
 1 Mexico            29.0            - 17
 2 South Korea       16.7            + 17
 3 Australia         10.2            + 88
 4 Japan              8.9            - 19
 5 Canada             4.8            + 52

1100CT Jessica.Mueller@ams.usda.gov 608.422.8589
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