MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  July 26, 2017 (REPORT 30)                          

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:

Cheese production remains moderate in the Northeast region. Some 
cheese producers point out that milk intakes, for the first time in 
recent months, are well balanced. However, contacts have started to 
show concern about school districts cutting into milk supplies. The 
current balanced milk supply, for cheese processors, may be short 
lived. Overall, domestic cheese demand is on the lighter side, similar 
to last year's numbers at this time. Cheese inventories in the 
Northeast are mixed. The market tone is firming a bit of late, and 
expectations are positive for the near term. CME Group daily cash 
trading on Tuesday saw the barrel cheese price close at $1.4575, down 
$0.0275 from a week ago, while block cheese ended the day at $1.7075, 
down $0.0025 from a week ago. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, 
for July 21-27, 2017, noted the Northeast weighted average advertised 
price for 8 oz. cheese blocks was $2.19, 5 cents below the national 
average, with a regional price range of $1.49-$3.00. The Southeast 8 
oz. block average price was $2.46, 22 cents above the national 
average, with a regional price range of $1.98-$2.50. The Northeast 
average advertised price for 8 oz. cheese shreds was $2.35, the same 
price as the national average price, with a regional price range of 
$1.66-$3.99. In the Southeast, the average price for 8 oz. shreds was 
$2.46, 11 cents above the national average, with prices ranging $1.98-
$2.50. COLD STORAGE:  According to NASS, U.S. stocks of total natural 
cheese as of June 2017 totaled 1.3 billion pounds, 1 percent less than the 
previous month, but up 5 percent from a year ago. Swiss cheese totaled 
25.5 million pounds, 4 percent more than a year ago, but down 3 percent 
from last month. In New England, stocks of American cheese totaled 67.3 
million pounds, 6 percent more than June 2016, but no change from May 
2017. Northeast wholesale cheese prices for cheddar and Muenster 
shifted higher, $0.0800, and process cheese prices moved higher, 
$0.0225. The Grade A Swiss price is unchanged.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.1450-2.4300     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.6125-2.0925     
Muenster                                     : 2.1300-2.4800     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.1325-3.4550     


1100CT israel.weber@ams.usda.gov  608.422.8601
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