MD_DA811                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA811 Cheese - Foreign Type                                   

MADISON, WI.  May 20, 2015 (REPORT 20)                           

FOREIGN TYPE CHEESE                                              
                                                                 
Prices for domestic foreign type cheese moved higher this week, while 
imports and Swiss prices held steady.  Demand for all varieties of 
imported and domestic foreign type cheese continues to be fairly good 
with supplies readily available.  The weak euro, compared to the US 
dollar, is largely responsible for the increase of cheese imports into 
the US.  Imports of high tier and quota Italian-type cheese from January 
through April 2015 totaled 10.4 million pounds, up 54% compared to last 
year. Imports of quota Italian-type cheese for April totaled 1.3 million 
pounds, 70% higher than last year.  Imports of high tier and quota 
Swiss/Emmenthaler varieties from January through April 2015 totaled 16.9 
million pounds, 22% more than last year. Imports of quota 
Swiss/Emmenthaler for April totaled 4.1 million pounds, 29% higher than 
last year.  

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: FOB DISTRIBUTORS DOCK                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS, MIXED LOTS)               
                           :           NEW YORK                  
VARIETY                    :    IMPORTED     :    DOMESTIC       
                           :                 :                   
Blue                       :  2.6400-5.3800  :  2.1525-3.6400*   
Gorgonzola                 :  3.6900-5.8900  :  2.6600-3.3575*   
Parmesan (Italy)           :       -0-       :  3.5425-5.6325*   
Provolone (Italy)          :       -0-       :  2.1950-2.4475*   
Romano (Cows Milk)         :       -0-       :  3.3425-5.4925*   
Sardo Romano (Argentine)   :  2.8500-4.9300  :       -0-         
Reggianito (Argentine)     :  3.2900-4.9300  :       -0-         
Jarlsberg-(Brand)          :  2.9500-6.4500  :       -0-         
Swiss Cuts Switzerland     :       -0-       :  3.2700-3.5925    
Swiss Cuts Finnish         :  2.6700-2.9300  :       -0-         
* = Price change.                                                

         2015 U.S. Cheese Imports (USDA-FAS)
                  (Million Lb.)       % Change From   % of 
                                      1 Year Ago      Yearly Quota
Apr. Quota Imports   16.2               + 34              5

Jan. - Apr.    
High Tier            11.6               + 22             N.A.
Quota Imports        59.8               + 27             20


1100C rick.whipp@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7004
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: www.ams.usda.gov/dairymarketnews
Dairy Market News database portal: http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-
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