The Latest: June - 2026
The Weight of Heavy Milk Production
The dairy markets are falling under the weight of heavy milk production. CME spot nonfat dry milk (NDM) dropped 4.5ȼ this week to $2.045 per pound. Every NDM futures contract settled south of $2, far below the spot market’s spring peak at nearly $2.30. Spot whey powder fell 3ȼ this week to 67ȼ, its lowest price since late March. CME spot Cheddar blocks slipped 0.25ȼ to $1.4725, a fresh three-month low. But butter bucked the trend. It climbed 2.5ȼ to $1.6925.
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In December, milk production among the world’s five largest dairy exporters fell 1.3% below December 2020, the steepest decline in five years. At 19 billion pounds, U.S. milk production was 1.6% lower than in January 2021, the steepest decline since March 2004.
View reportButter and Cheddar reached all-time highs at the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction on Tuesday, while both skim milk powder (SMP) and whole milk powder (WMP) prices climbed to fresh seven-year highs.
View reportBuyers and sellers jockeyed to exert their influence on the trade. The action in the cheese markets was relatively subdued, however important movements in the nonfat dry milk, whey, and especially butter markets, kept observers on their toes.
View reportThe phenomenon is certainly not limited to the United States. Market observers watched the Global Dairy Trade index climb on Tuesday by 4.1%, with the index reaching the highest level seen since February 2014.
View reportNearly every product lost ground at the CME as market participants challenged the high product prices seen in recent weeks. However, the butter markets really stole the show.
View reportAt the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction on Tuesday, the GDT Index jumped 4.6% to its highest price since March 2014, led by a 5.6% increase in the price of whole milk powder (WMP). GDT butter and cheese both scored all-time highs, while SMP climbed to prices not seen in nearly eight years.
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