Executive Summary

U.S. dairy export figures provided by the USDA have been made available through the completion of the 2021 calendar year. Highlights from the full year data include:

• 2021 annual U.S. dairy export volumes reached a record high level for the second consecutive year, finishing 18.8% above previous year levels on a dollar basis.
• Growth in U.S. dairy exports was led by product destined to Mexico, China and Canada throughout the 2021 calendar year.
• Asian and North American countries continue to be the largest importers of U.S. dairy products, accounting for over three quarters of all U.S. dairy exports throughout 2021.

Additional Details

U.S. dairy export volumes reached a record high level for the second consecutive year throughout 2021. Dairy export volumes as percentage of total milk-solids production finished 2021 at an estimated level of 17.5%, up from the 16.0% figure experienced throughout the previous year.

Mexico was the largest destination for U.S. dairy export volumes throughout the 2021 calendar year, followed by Canada and China. Mexico accounted for nearly a quarter of all U.S. dairy exports throughout 2021, leading all export destinations for the 19^th consecutive year.

On a dollar basis, 2021 annual U.S. dairy export volumes finished 18.8% above previous year levels. The total value of dairy products destined to Mexico, China and Canada increased most significantly from previous year levels. Mexico, China and Canada combined to account for over half of all dairy export growth throughout the 2021 calendar year.

Regionally, Asia remains the largest destination for U.S. dairy exports, increasing by 15.1% on a YOY basis throughout 2021. North American countries remained the second largest destination for U.S. dairy exports, finishing 23.4% above previous year levels. Asian and North American countries combined to account for over three quarters of all U.S. dairy export volumes throughout the 2021 calendar year.

Growth was also experienced in volumes destined to Central & South American countries (+21.1%) as well as African & Middle Eastern countries (+31.4%). Combined volumes destined to Oceania and Europe, which accounted for less than six percent of all U.S. dairy export volumes, finished 4.6% above previous year levels.