MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  April 13, 2016 (REPORT 15)                         

WEST CHEESE                                                      

Western cheese production is steady to higher as milk intakes continue to rise 
seasonally. Some manufacturers say milk supplies are in fairly good balance with 
processing needs. Although commercial cheese inventories are heavy, a few industry 
contacts report cheese stocks are not necessarily overly burdensome. All the same, 
neither manufacturers, nor end users, are very eager to add to the already heavy 
inventories. Domestic cheese demand is steady, but export opportunities are generally 
limited. The market tone remains a little bearish. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy 
for the week of April 8-14 shows the U.S. weighted average advertised retail price for an 
8 ounce pack of natural shredded cheese is $2.27, down $.09 from last week, and down $.08 
from a year ago. Packs average $2.33 in the Southwest and $2.60 in the Northwest. For 8 
ounce blocks, the U.S. price is $2.42, up $.27 from last week, and up $.02 from a year 
ago. Blocks average $2.26 in the Southwest and $2.38 in the Northwest this week. In the 
West, wholesale prices are down $.0150 for process, and down $.0325 for cheddar block, 
cuts, and Monterey Jack. Swiss cut wholesale prices are unchanged this week. This week, a 
cooperative export assistance program accepted requests for 1.614 million pounds (732 
metric tons) of cheese. So far this year, the program has assisted member cooperatives 
who have contracts to sell 13.975 million pounds of cheese in export markets. In CME 
Group trading Wednesday, barrels closed at $1.4275, down $.0150 from a week ago and 
blocks closed at $1.4275, down $.0050.


WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.5425-1.8000     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.5425-1.9875     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 1.7225-1.9425     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 1.7325-1.8925     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 2.5525-2.9825     

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