“We totaled out at $6.5. billion in 2020, that’s roughly a 10 percent increase over 2019.”
Daniel Whitley tells Brownfield Mexico, Canada, and China led as the top U.S. dairy importers despite COVID slowdowns which highlights the success of trade agreements and progress made on trade barriers.
“There’s still more work to do, they’re not resolved, we’ve got to get some of these additional barriers addressed and open up those markets for the American dairy industry,” he says.
Whitley adds Southeast Asia imported nearly $3 billion of dairy products last year and expects that region to remain a significant buyer as their middle class grows.
Dairy sales to Mexico were down eight percent in 2020 because of reduced pandemic sales and should also improve this year as recovery continues.