Overall milk usage in December was above year-earlier levels for second time in 2009. Demand for nonfat dry milk and butter was down. Cheese use was mixed.
American cheese demand in December lost 1.9% from a year ago, but was 3.4% above previous-month levels, USDA’s latest Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook tables show. Demand for the “other” cheese category increased 4% from 2008 levels, but was 5.3% below month-earlier levels. Total cheese use was 1.6% higher than a year ago, but 2% lower than in November. For 2009, American cheese use was 2.2% higher, while the other than American cheese category was up 0.4% and total cheese was 1.1% higher.
Nonfat dry milk use dropped 32.4% in December and butter use declined 4.3%, compared with previous-year levels. On a month-to-month basis, commercial disappearance of butter decreased 4.4%, while nonfat dry milk use slid 5.3%. For 2009, nonfat dry milk use was down 5.9% and butter use was 8.1% lower.
Looking at earlier USDA reports, year-over-year cottage cheese use decreased 2.9% during December, while the frozen dessert category registered a 4.4% loss. Fluid milk use was negative for only the third time in 2009, down 0.1% from a year ago, but 2.2% above month-earlier levels. Year-to-date cottage cheese use was up 4.1% from 2008, while frozen desserts were 1.1% lower. Fluid milk use was up 1.1%.
On a milkfat basis, total use decreased 0.5% in December compared with a year ago and lost 4% from the previous-month level. On a skim-solids basis, demand was 6.8% above 2008 and 2.5% higher than month-earlier levels. And finally, on a total solids basis, use was 3.7% higher than a year ago, but 0.2% below month-earlier figures. Year to date, milk usage was lower. Total disappearance was 1.7% lower on a milkfat basis and down 0.3% on a skim-solids basis. That puts milk use down 0.9% on a total solids basis.
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