Uruguay's Dairy Export Boom: An Impressive Start in 2025
Source: dairynews.today
Uruguay's dairy exports have seen a substantial rise, with a 19% increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2025.
Uruguay's dairy sector marked a remarkable start in 2025 with a 19% increase in export revenues compared to the same period in 2024, totaling $222.1 million, according to the National Milk Institute (Inale).
The growth spanned all segments of dairy products, with whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, and butter showing revenue increases, albeit with a decline in cheese earnings. Volume-wise, exports of whole and skimmed milk powder rose, while cheese and butter exports decreased. The main markets for these exports remain Brazil and Algeria, significantly ahead of other destinations.
Dairy products continue to be a major contributor to Uruguay's export economy, ranking fourth among its top exported goods in 2024 behind cellulose, beef, and soy. In the early months of 2025, dairy products climbed to third place, also trailing behind beef and cellulose.
The volume of products exported saw a significant rise, with whole milk powder exports increasing by 10% to 38,165 tonnes and skimmed milk powder by 10% to 4,335 tonnes.
However, cheese exports dropped by 19% to 5,034 tonnes, and butter exports decreased by 2% to 2,649 tonnes. In terms of pricing, whole milk powder saw a 16% average price increase, while skimmed milk powder and cheese both rose by 1% and butter by a notable 28%.
March 2025 witnessed these average prices per tonne: $4,026 for whole milk powder, $3,176 for skimmed milk powder, $4,983 for cheese, and $6,493 for butter. Compared with December 2024, prices showed significant increases across all categories.
Overall, Brazil remains the primary destination for Uruguayan dairy exports, followed closely by Algeria. While Brazil imports mainly skimmed milk powder and cheese, Algeria focuses on whole milk powder, and Russia dominates butter imports. 2024 experienced a slight overall increase in dairy export revenue by 0.5%, totaling $853.9 million for the year.
The growth spanned all segments of dairy products, with whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, and butter showing revenue increases, albeit with a decline in cheese earnings. Volume-wise, exports of whole and skimmed milk powder rose, while cheese and butter exports decreased. The main markets for these exports remain Brazil and Algeria, significantly ahead of other destinations.
Dairy products continue to be a major contributor to Uruguay's export economy, ranking fourth among its top exported goods in 2024 behind cellulose, beef, and soy. In the early months of 2025, dairy products climbed to third place, also trailing behind beef and cellulose.
The volume of products exported saw a significant rise, with whole milk powder exports increasing by 10% to 38,165 tonnes and skimmed milk powder by 10% to 4,335 tonnes.
However, cheese exports dropped by 19% to 5,034 tonnes, and butter exports decreased by 2% to 2,649 tonnes. In terms of pricing, whole milk powder saw a 16% average price increase, while skimmed milk powder and cheese both rose by 1% and butter by a notable 28%.
March 2025 witnessed these average prices per tonne: $4,026 for whole milk powder, $3,176 for skimmed milk powder, $4,983 for cheese, and $6,493 for butter. Compared with December 2024, prices showed significant increases across all categories.
Overall, Brazil remains the primary destination for Uruguayan dairy exports, followed closely by Algeria. While Brazil imports mainly skimmed milk powder and cheese, Algeria focuses on whole milk powder, and Russia dominates butter imports. 2024 experienced a slight overall increase in dairy export revenue by 0.5%, totaling $853.9 million for the year.
