MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  December 16, 2015 (REPORT 50)                      

WEST CHEESE                                                      

Western cheese makers report plenty of milk for processing needs. Cheese production 
remains steady. Some manufacturers say specialty cheese sales have been good during the 
holiday season. Retail and food service demand is firm. Although processors expect some 
downturn in cheese demand after the holidays, they anticipate good requests for cheese 
continuing through the Super Bowl. Storage remains a concern in some areas of the region. 
Industry contacts report available storage is limited and cheese barrels are long. The 
DMN National Retail Report-Dairy for the week of December 11-17 shows the U.S. weighted 
average advertised retail price for an 8 ounce pack of natural shredded cheese is $2.20, 
down $.12 from last week and down $.25 from a year ago. Packs averaged $2.35 in the 
Southwest and $2.48 in the Northwest. For 8 ounce blocks, the U.S. price is $2.29, up 
$.05 from last week, but down $.33 from a year ago. Blocks averaged $1.99 in the 
Southwest and $2.73 in the Northwest this week. In the West, wholesale prices are down 
$.0325 for process, and down $.0675 for cheddar block, cuts, and Monterey jack. Prices 
are unchanged for Swiss cuts. This week, a cooperative export assistance program accepted 
requests for 3.402 million pounds of cheese. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels 
closed at $1.4100, down $.0900 from a week ago and blocks closed at $1.4100, down $.0650. 

       2015 U.S. Cheese Imports (USDA-FAS)

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

November Quota Imports		 27.8		+  7.6		 9.3

JAN - NOV
    High Tier			 36.9		+ 36.6		...
    Quota Imports			202.8		+ 18.6		67.9


WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.5900-1.8475     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.5875-2.0325     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 1.7675-1.9875     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 1.7775-1.9375     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 2.7875-3.2175     


1530CT Mike.Bandli@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7010
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