USDA Oceania Cheddar Cheese 12/18 10:25

AMS_1082 MARS

Cheese - Oceania

Released on December 18, 2025

Oceania cheddar cheese prices were mostly steady during the reporting period, 
increasing slightly at the bottom of the price range and remaining unchanged at 
the top of the price range. Milk production remains strong, allowing for strong 
cheese production even as Oceania has passed the peak of its spring flush 
period. Domestic demand was steady, with domestic processor prices unchanged 
during the reporting period. In contrast to butter and milk powders, export 
prices for cheddar were stable and remained near parity with domestic price 
levels.

At Global Dairy Trade (GDT) event 394, cheddar price indices were mixed across 
all contract periods for which product was offered. The January, March, and 
April price indices each decreased between 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent, while 
the February and May contracts increased by 1.2 percent and 1.1 percent, 
respectively. No product was offered for delivery under the June contract. The 
volume of cheddar sold at event 394 was in line with both the volume sold at 
the prior event and the volume sold at event 370, held one year ago. Buyers in 
Southeast Asia/Oceania purchased the most cheddar at event 394, with buyers in 
North Asian and the Middle East buying the second- and third-most cheddar, 
respectively.

Prices for: Oceania, 39% Maximum Moisture, Free on Board - Port Cheese
Price Range - Dollars per Metric Ton: 4625 - 4700


Information for the period December 8 - 19, 2025, issued biweekly

Secondary Sourced Information:

During GDT event 394 on December 16, 2025, the average price for cheddar across 
all contract periods was $4,646 per metric ton, corresponding to a slight 
increase in the cheddar price index from the prior event. The average price for 
the January contract was $4,627 per metric ton, with the January price index 
down 1.0 percent. More information on cheddar prices at the most recent event 
can be found at https://www.globaldairytrade.info/en/product-results/cheddar/. 

Dairy Australia recently released export data for Australia showing cheddar 
cheese export volumes from July - October 2025 totaled 9,453 metric tons, a 
decrease of 1.9 percent compared to export volume totals from July - October 
2024. Other cheese export volumes from July - October 2025 totaled 44,360 
metric tons, an increase of 5.5 percent compared to export volume totals from 
July - October 2024. 

According to Dairy Australia, cheese production in Australia in September 2025 
totaled 42,545 metric tons, an increase of 30.7 percent compared to production 
totals in September 2024. Australian cheese production from July - September 
2025 totaled 101,074 metric tons, an increase of 4.2 percent compared to 
production totals from July - September 2024.

[0600059B]