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Cheese exports remain strong

USDA Foreign Ag Service says U.S. cheese and curd exports in August totaled just over 69 million pounds up 11 percent from August of last year.  January-through-August exports total more than 578 million pounds up 29 percent from the same period in 2013.  Mexico remains our Number-1 customer buying 122 million pounds up 8 percent from a year ago.  South Korea has purchased 108 million pounds, up 51 percent, Japan has purchased 89 million pounds up 81 percent.  Sales to Australia are up 69 percent at more than 30 million pounds and Saudi Arabia’s purchases have totaled nearly 29 million pounds up 68 percent from a year ago.

One good reason for the strong exports is the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) export assistance program.  Year-to-date, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in selling 86.190 million pounds of cheese, 48.240 million pounds of butter and 37.847 million pounds of whole milk powder to 43 countries on six continents.