MD_DA840                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA840 Cheese - West                                           

MADISON, WI.  December 14, 2016 (REPORT 50)                      

WEST CHEESE                                                      

Western cheese makers say they continue to fill holiday orders and some 
additional block demand. Domestic retail demand is solid. Cheese production is 
active with good volumes of milk flowing into cheese vats. Block cheese 
manufacturing is in good balance with current cheese demands and inventories are 
steady. Inventories for barrel cheese are a little long. Some processors are 
selling barrel at sizeable discounts to published market prices. The DMN National 
Retail Report-Dairy for the week of December 9-15 shows the U.S. weighted average 
advertised retail price for an 8 ounce pack of natural shredded cheese is $2.11, 
down $.21 from last week. Packs average $2.20 in the Southwest and $1.52 in the 
Northwest. One year ago, the national price was $2.20. For 8 ounce blocks, the 
U.S. price is $1.90, down $.35 from last week. Blocks average $2.20 in the 
Southwest and $1.52 in the Northwest this week. One year ago, the national price 
was $2.29. In the West, wholesale prices are down $.0525 for process, and down 
$.0650 for cheddar block, cuts, and Monterey Jack. Swiss cut wholesale prices are 
unchanged. This week, a cooperative export assistance program accepted requests 
for 2.518 million pounds (1,142 metric tons) of cheese. So far this year, the 
program has assisted member cooperatives who have contracts to sell 51.4 million 
pounds of cheese in export markets. In CME Group trading Wednesday, barrels 
closed at $1.7150, up $.1300 from last Wednesday and blocks closed at $1.7575, up 
$.0275. 


WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES:  DELIVERED, DOLLARS PER POUND          
(1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                                  
                                                                 
Process 5# Loaf                              : 1.6925-1.9500     
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 1.8300-2.2750     
Cheddar 10# Cuts                             : 2.0100-2.2300     
Monterey Jack 10#                            : 2.0200-2.1800     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 6 - 9#                    : 2.8475-3.2775     


1530CT Mike.Bandli@ams.usda.gov 605-557-7010
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