October 3, 2007 

Wisconsin dairy exports reaching record levels

Dairy exports from the US state of Wisconsin are setting record pace for the first six months of 2007 due to soaring demand in Asia and Latin America.

The state's agriculture department notes that the dollar value of Wisconsin dairy exports increased from US$40 million in 2006 to US$76 million in 2007--an 89 percent increase compared to the same period the year before.

The volume of Wisconsin dairy exports shipped overseas increased from 17 million kilograms in the first six months of 2006 to 33 million kilograms in the first six months of 2007--an 86 percent increase compared to the same period the year before. By comparison, the dollar value of US dairy exports overall increased 32 percent during the same period and volume by 27 percent.

Whey, once regarded as a disposal challenge for cheese plants, was the the state's main export with China as the lead importer. Wisconsin whey exports grew from US$13 million dollars in the first six months of 2006 to US$37 million in the first six months of 2007. The high-protein by-product of cheese making is a sought-after ingredient for numerous processed foods, from baby formula to cake mix

Wisconsin cheese and curd exports grew from US$22 million in 2006 to US$33 million in 2007, a 49 percent increase compared to the same period the year before. Japan has begun to import Wisconsin cheese, increasing imports from US$3.9 million in 2005 to US$10 million in 2007.

Agricultural exports help the state and nation's trade balance as well as enabling Wisconsin farmers and food and agriculture businesses to grow.