Unlock New Markets: Overcoming Challenges in U.S. Dairy Exports
- amy55735
- Jan 29
- 1 min read
The U.S. dairy industry faces a pivotal moment as it contends with both gripping challenges and promising prospects amidst fluctuating global market dynamics. Krysta Harden, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), provides insights into the factors shaping the current landscape and future outlook for the industry.
Factors Affecting U.S. Dairy Exports
Several key factors have contributed to the minor dip (-0.3%) in U.S. dairy export volume (milk solids equivalent) through the first 11 months of 2024. According to Harden one of the significant challenges is the tight production supply, particularly at the year’s end. This issue was exacerbated by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak in California.
“California was way down in their production, and they are our biggest dairy state,” says Harden. “Losing that much production inevitably impacts our markets.”
This constrained supply has resulted in higher prices, making it challenging for the U.S. to remain competitive globally. Despite these issues, Harden underscores export growth in key markets such as Mexico for the U.S. dairy industry. Other regions like China, however, have shown a drop in demand.
By Karen Bohnert
January 28, 2025
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