U.S. Dairy Cold Storage Update – Dec ’15
Butter – Stocks Remain Significantly Higher on YOY Basis
According to USDA, Nov ’15 U.S. butter stocks of 132.7 million pounds remained significantly higher on a YOY basis, finishing up 23.4% to a six year high for the month of November. Butter stocks declined by 46.1 million pounds, or 25.8%, from the previous month, consistent with the ten year average October – November seasonal decline of 41.2 million pounds, or 27.9%.
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 104.7 million pounds was less than half of the prior year’s seasonal drawdown due to a significant reduction in export demand. Throughout the period, YOY U.S. butterfat exports declined by 89.1 million pounds, or 55.9%, as domestic butter prices traded at a significant premium to international butter prices. Domestic butterfat exports remained weak through the early months of 2015, despite U.S. butter prices converging downwards towards international prices. More recently, the domestic butter price premium has once again increased, reaching an 11 year high in Nov ’15. U.S. butterfat exports have declined YOY for 18 consecutive months through Oct ’15.
Cheese – Stocks Remain Significantly Higher YOY, Reach 32 Year High for Month of November
Nov ’15 U.S. cheese stocks of 1.15 billion pounds finished flat MOM but up 12.6% YOY to a 32 year high for the month of November. The monthly YOY increase in cheese stocks was the 13th experienced in a row. Cheese stocks have declined by an average of 12.9 million pounds, or 1.5%, from October – November over the past 10 years. Cheese stocks have remained higher YOY 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 13th consecutive month in Oct ’15.
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 Nov – Jul 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, Nov ’15 U.S. butter stocks of 132.7 million pounds remained significantly higher on a YOY basis, finishing up 23.4% to a six year high for the month of November. Butter stocks declined by 46.1 million pounds, or 25.8%, from the previous month, consistent with the ten year average October – November seasonal decline of 41.2 million pounds, or 27.9%.
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 104.7 million pounds was less than half of the prior year’s seasonal drawdown due to a significant reduction in export demand. Throughout the period, YOY U.S. butterfat exports declined by 89.1 million pounds, or 55.9%, as domestic butter prices traded at a significant premium to international butter prices. Domestic butterfat exports remained weak through the early months of 2015, despite U.S. butter prices converging downwards towards international prices. More recently, the domestic butter price premium has once again increased, reaching an 11 year high in Nov ’15. U.S. butterfat exports have declined YOY for 18 consecutive months through Oct ’15.
Cheese – Stocks Remain Significantly Higher YOY, Reach 32 Year High for Month of November
Nov ’15 U.S. cheese stocks of 1.15 billion pounds finished flat MOM but up 12.6% YOY to a 32 year high for the month of November. The monthly YOY increase in cheese stocks was the 13th experienced in a row. Cheese stocks have declined by an average of 12.9 million pounds, or 1.5%, from October – November over the past 10 years. Cheese stocks have remained higher YOY 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 13th consecutive month in Oct ’15.
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 Nov – Jul 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.