U.S. Dairy Cold Storage Update – May ’16
Executive Summary
U.S. cold storage figures provided by USDA were recently updated with values spanning through Apr ’16. Highlights from the updated report include:
• Mar ’16 U.S. butter stocks continued to increase seasonally while also remaining higher on a YOY basis, finishing 28.3% above the previous year’s level.
• Mar ’16 U.S. cheese stocks also remained higher on a YOY basis, finishing up 11.8% to a new 32 year high.
Additional Report Details
Butter – Stocks Remain Significantly Higher on YOY Basis, Finish up 28.3%
According to USDA, Apr ’16 U.S. butter stocks of 298.2 million pounds remained significantly higher on a YOY basis, finishing up 28.3% to a new two and a half year high. The monthly YOY increase in butter stocks was the 13th experienced in a row. Butter stocks increased by 55.0 million pounds, or 22.6%, from the previous month, which was significantly larger than the ten year average March – April seasonal increase of 29.1 million pounds, or 13.9%. Apr ’16 butter stocks finished 22.7% above the three year average butter stocks for the month of April.
U.S. butter stocks typically reach their seasonal peak in May, followed by seasonal drawdowns until lows are reached during the winter months. The most recent seasonal drawdown in butter stocks of 132.1 million pounds was 11.7% less than the previous three year average seasonal drawdown as weak export demand outweighed increases in domestic consumption. U.S. butterfat exports had declined YOY for 20 consecutive months through Dec ’15.
Cheese – Stocks Remain Significantly Higher YOY, Reach a New 32 Year High
Apr ’16 U.S. cheese stocks of 1.21 billion pounds increased 1.9% MOM and 11.8% YOY, finishing at a new 32 year high. The monthly YOY increase in cheese stocks was the 18th experienced in a row. Cheese stocks have remained higher on a YOY basis in recent months as milk production has strengthened in Midwestern cheese producing states while weakness in cheese export markets has continued. Strong cheese production has been partially offset by continued strong domestic demand, however cheese exports remained lower YOY for the 18th consecutive month during Mar ’16.
U.S. cheese stocks typically exhibit a smaller degree of MOM and YOY variation than U.S. butter stocks. Cheese stocks do not have as large of a seasonal build as butter stocks, with the five year average November – July seasonal build in cheese stocks representing a 12.7% increase in stocks vs. a 121.1% increase in butter stocks. The reduced seasonality exhibited in U.S. cheese stocks has led to less volatile YOY variation, with cheese stocks having a five year average absolute YOY change of 5.3% compared to 26.3% for U.S. butter stocks.
According to USDA, Apr ’16 U.S. butter stocks of 298.2 million pounds remained significantly higher on a YOY basis, finishing up 28.3% to a new two and a half year high. The monthly YOY increase in butter stocks was the 13th experienced in a row. Butter stocks increased by 55.0 million pounds, or 22.6%, from the previous month, which was significantly larger than the ten year average March – April seasonal increase of 29.1 million pounds, or 13.9%. Apr ’16 butter stocks finished 22.7% above the three year average butter stocks for the month of April.
U.S. butter stocks typically reach their seasonal peak in May, followed by seasonal drawdowns until lows are reached during the winter months. The most recent seasonal drawdown in butter stocks of 132.1 million pounds was 11.7% less than the previous three year average seasonal drawdown as weak export demand outweighed increases in domestic consumption. U.S. butterfat exports had declined YOY for 20 consecutive months through Dec ’15.
Cheese – Stocks Remain Significantly Higher YOY, Reach a New 32 Year High
Apr ’16 U.S. cheese stocks of 1.21 billion pounds increased 1.9% MOM and 11.8% YOY, finishing at a new 32 year high. The monthly YOY increase in cheese stocks was the 18th experienced in a row. Cheese stocks have remained higher on a YOY basis in recent months as milk production has strengthened in Midwestern cheese producing states while weakness in cheese export markets has continued. Strong cheese production has been partially offset by continued strong domestic demand, however cheese exports remained lower YOY for the 18th consecutive month during Mar ’16.
U.S. cheese stocks typically exhibit a smaller degree of MOM and YOY variation than U.S. butter stocks. Cheese stocks do not have as large of a seasonal build as butter stocks, with the five year average November – July seasonal build in cheese stocks representing a 12.7% increase in stocks vs. a 121.1% increase in butter stocks. The reduced seasonality exhibited in U.S. cheese stocks has led to less volatile YOY variation, with cheese stocks having a five year average absolute YOY change of 5.3% compared to 26.3% for U.S. butter stocks.