Inside Milk
British export considerably less cheese to the US
The export of dairy products from the United Kingdom came under pressure last year. This is partly due to supply chain problems caused by the corona crisis. The export of milk concentrate and milk powder in particular shows a sharp decline. Less cheese went to the United States.
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British dairy exports recorded a minus of 10% to 1,32 million tons in the past year. This is partly due to the fact that many of the supply chains have been under pressure as a result of the corona crisis. That writes government agency AHDB. There is a decline in all major product categories, but the export figures for milk powders and concentrates show the greatest stagnation. The export of those products fell by 17%.
In 2020, a total of 9.300 tons of dairy products were exported to the United States alone. It is worth £52 million. The import of dairy products from the United States was minimal, 562 tons. Yet it is no less than eight times as much as in the previous year. One of the reasons for this is the weaker dollar against the pound and the euro. The 'tariff war' between the two countries has also hurt trade. The United States imposed 2019% tariffs on a range of products at the end of 25.
Less cheese to the United States
British cheese exports fell by 15.000 tons to 193.000 tons over the past year. It is a decrease of 7% compared to the previous year. Less cheese was exported to the United States, in particular. There are reports of a decrease of approximately 30% to 40%. Exact figures are not (yet) known. One of the reasons for this is the shutdown of the food service. After all, a lot of specialized cheese is usually shipped abroad via the food service.
According to insiders, there is also a shift visible in the American cheese market. A few months ago, the 'American Victory Cheese' campaign was launched. The campaign informs Americans about the difficult situation in which American cheese makers find themselves. This campaign was successful, as patriotism among the Americans was fueled and British cheeses increasingly faded into the background.
At the same time, the British also imported considerably less cheese from other countries. Imports saw a decrease of 8% in the past year, or 41.000 tons, compared to 2019. The total imports of dairy products decreased by 2020% in 6 to 1,29 million tons.
