Record cheese, butterfat exports point to strong 2026 for dairy

2026 could be another record year for U.S. dairy exports. 

CoBank ag economist Abbi Groves says international business continues to be strong.

“We have seen record exports for butterfat and for cheese, which has been really important because we have a surplus of those things in the domestic market. So being able to move those into the export front has been really important.”

Speaking to Brownfield at the World Pork Expo in Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday, she said the export pace resembles the end of 2025.

“Which is pretty good. But I would assume that this year would be a record year for exports in both of those categories.”

Groves says 15 to 17 percent of U.S. milk production has been exported the past two years, and she expects 2026 to be closer to 17.