Gains Reported for December Dairy Product Production

February 6, 2025 By Nicole Heslip

The USDA has reported that the production of most dairy products saw an increase in December, with processors focusing on high-demand categories. This marks a notable change, particularly for products like cheese and butter.

Cheese Production: Total cheese production reached nearly 1.2 billion pounds. Although this represents a slight decrease of about one percent from the previous year, it reflects a four percent increase from the previous month. Italian cheese production rose by three percent from last year and saw an almost six percent increase from November. In contrast, American cheese production fell by almost four percent over the year but managed a nearly four percent rise compared to the preceding month.

Butter Production: Butter production was reported at 198 million pounds, marking an increase of over two percent from the prior year and a significant jump of more than 13 percent compared to the preceding month.

Other Dairy Products: Nonfat dry milk production saw a decline of approximately 12 percent from 2023, while skim milk powder decreased by nearly 21 percent. Interestingly, dry whey production was down nearly five percent, whereas lactose production increased by three percent over the year. The production of hard ice cream saw a remarkable surge of more than 18 percent in December.

This report highlights the emphasis placed by dairy processors on products experiencing robust consumer demand, reflecting a dynamic and adaptive dairy industry.