US Trade with Top Milk Countries
Over Two-Thirds of US Milk Exports Go to Canada & Mexico
Jun 23, 2008
Finland consumed the most milk per capita in 2006, an average of 183.9 litres. Another Scandinavian country, Sweden, finished second by drinking 145.5 litres per capita.
These findings are according to statistics from the International Dairy Federation - Bulletin 423/2007.
While China’s vast population of over 1.3 billion people results in large total demand for liquid milk products, the average Chinese consumes about 8.8 litres per year. That figure is 20 times less than the per capita statistic for Finland.
Other Milk Consuming Countries
Other leading milk drinking countries per capita include: Ireland (129.8 litres), Netherlands (122.9 litres), Spain (119.1 litres), Norway (116.7 litres), Switzerland (112.5 litres), United Kingdom (111.2 litres), Australia (106.3 litres) and Canada (94.7 litres).
The average American milk drinker downs 83.9 litres annually while the per capita figure for Mexico is half that amount at 40.7 litres.
Top Milk Producing Countries
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the United States produced more milk than any other country in 2005.
- United States … 80.2 million metric tons (up 3.5% from 2004)
- India … 38.5 million metric tons (up 2.7%)
- Russia … 30.6 million metric tons (down 3.4%)
- Germany … 27.6 million metric tons (down 1.9%)
- France … 25.3 million metric tons (up 3.8%)
- China … 24.5 million metric tons (up 7%)
- Brazil … 23.3 million metric tons (no change)
- New Zealand … 14.6 million metric tons (up .05%)
- United Kingdom … 14.58 million metric tons (up 8.3%)
- Ukraine … 13.5 million metric tons (up 14.1%).
Canada tied with Argentina in 19th place, each producing 8.1 million metric tons. Mexico was well ahead in 15th place, generating 9.9 million metric tons of milk in 2005.
American Milk Exports
During 2006, total U.S. milk exports increased by 24.1% from the prior year to $58.2 million. In an excerpt from a comprehensive report entitled “Fluid Milk Manufacturing Industry In The U.S. And Its Foreign Trade (1996-2008)”, Ireland’s Research and Markets further reveals America’s top milk importing customers in 2006.
- Canada … US$22.3 million (38.3% of total U.S. milk exports)
- Mexico … $17.1 million (29.4%)
- Thailand … $2.5 million (4.3%)
- Hong Kong … $1.7 million (2.8%)
- South Korea … $1.6 million (2.75%).
While the United States exports liquid milk to 70 countries around the world, the above five countries accept about 78% of total American milk exports. Notably absent from this list are European Union countries. The EU restricts the import of milk for personal uses to other EU nations, with very few exemptions like Switzerland.
American Milk Imports
The U.S. imported $30 million worth of milk in 2006, a 9.4% decrease from 2005. Listed below are the five countries that shipped the most milk to the U.S. by value.
- Greece … US$15.6 million (52% of total U.S. milk exports)
- Canada … $5.7 million (19.1%)
- Mexico … $2.3 million (7.7%)
- Spain … $1.1 million (3.6%)
- United Kingdom … $1 million (3.4%).
Of the 30 countries from which the U.S. imports milk, the top five countries above account for 86% of total American milk imports.
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