The United States exported an all-time high of 16% of U.S. milk solids produced in 2020. The previous record was 15.7% in 2018.

U.S. export value increased for the fourth straight year, reaching its highest level since 2014. Milk solids volume reached an all-time high of 4.6 billion lbs.

Year-over-year export value gains were strong for most of 2020, with the exception of a pandemic-induced blip in April and weakening sales at year-end as U.S. suppliers battled severe shipping delays at U.S. ports and unfavorable cheese pricing.

Strong demand in Southeast Asia for U.S. NFDM/SMP drove value to the region by 36%, while the Phase 1 U.S.-China trade agreement and robust whey demand lifted Chinese import value by 44%. Value of U.S. dairy exports to Mexico declined due to the double-shot of recession and pandemic.

U.S. NFDM/SMP exports grew 16% in 2020, topping 800,000 MT for the first time, and China's renewed whey demand (part of its efforts to rebuild a pig herd decimated by African Swine Fever in 2019) helped drive whey product sales by 24%.