UK exports of butter and cheese increased in the seven months of 2011 compared with 2010, by 2,762 tonnes and 9,276 tonnes respectively, according to data from DairyCo. Exports of butter between January and July 2011 saw dramatic improvements, being 40.2% higher than year earlier levels, and cheese exports were up 15.5%.
Exports of cheese in July were 2.5% (239 tonnes) down on June levels at 9,413 tonnes, but 18.2% higher than year earlier levels. Cumulative exports between January and July 2011 were 9,276 tonnes higher (15.5%) than in 2010. Cheddar exports both to EU and to world markets accounted for most of the growth, up by 4,005 tonnes (21.1%) and exports of ‘other’ cheese (used for pizza toppings and curd cheese exports) accounted for 2,966 tonnes of the increase. Territorial cheese exports fell by 8.2% over the year to 890 tonnes.
Exports of butter increased dramatically over the year, with the July 2011 figure reaching 1,340 tonnes, 363.7% higher than year earlier levels. Cumulatively for the first seven months of 2011, butter exports were 2,762 tonnes up on 2010. More than 75% of this growth occurred in bulk butter exports to EU markets and the rest occurred in packet exports to EU markets and bulk sales to world markets.