MD_DA811                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA811 Cheese - Foreign Type                                   

MADISON, WI.  February 08, 2017 (REPORT 6)                       

FOREIGN TYPE CHEESE   

Sliced cheese demand in Western Europe is seasonally normal. Demand 
is expected to increase in March, also a typical pattern. Within the 
EU, orders from southern countries have strengthened after a weaker 
early year experience. Stocks are adequate to satisfy current demand. 
Contract discussions for the second quarter are slow to finalize. 
Increased uncertainty about available milk supplies is a risk factor 
affecting future seller and buyer pricing expectations. Last week, 
the Dutch farm minister stated that a reduction of up to 100,000 cows 
in the Netherlands may be necessary to meet EU phosphate production 
limits, phosphate being a component of manure. Final numbers of cows, 
timing, and how the reduction will be accomplished are all pending, 
leaving an information void for the present. NASS reports that 
December 2016 United States Swiss cheese production, 26.9 million 
pounds, was 3.5% above November 2016 but 3.2% below one year earlier. 
In the U.S., wholesale blue, gorgonzola, parmesan and Romano prices 
increased $.0950, Swiss cuts Switzerland increased $.2150, the other 
varieties are unchanged.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
                                                                 
WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: FOB DISTRIBUTORS DOCK                  
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS, MIXED LOTS)               
                           :           NEW YORK                  
VARIETY                    :    IMPORTED     :    DOMESTIC       
                           :                 :                   
Blue                       :  2.6400-5.2300  :  2.2600-3.7475*   
Gorgonzola                 :  3.6900-5.7400  :  2.7675-3.4850*   
Parmesan (Italy)           :       -0-       :  3.6500-5.7400*   
Romano (Cows Milk)         :       -0-       :  3.4500-5.6000*   
Sardo Romano (Argentine)   :  2.8500-4.7800  :       -0-         
Reggianito (Argentine)     :  3.2900-4.7800  :       -0-         
Jarlsberg-(Brand)          :  2.9500-6.4500  :       -0-         
Swiss Cuts Switzerland     :       -0-       :  3.3475-3.6700*   
Swiss Cuts Finnish         :  2.6700-2.9300  :       -0-         

* = Price change.                                                


1100C eric.graf@ams.usda.gov 
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