After setting multi-year (blocks) or all-time (barrels) highs, CME cheese prices briefly settled into a familiar range in the $1.80-1.90’s before falling further to the $1.60-1.70’s. After a couple of months of growth, September cheese output was flat vs. last year and stocks fell 1.3% during the month. On October 31, total cheese stocks were down 8% vs. the prior year, the largest since July 2014. Exports in September were up 6.8% vs. last year, but the volume fell vs. August to one of the lowest totals for the year.
The old saying “high prices cure high prices” has had an impact on both export and domestic demand. Anecdotal reports note continued softness in some foodservice volumes and an underwhelming holiday demand outlook for retail cheese. Exports are a wild card with high Q3 prices likely denting demand in Q4, but current prices are more attractive for Q1 shipments. If so, that should support prices in the $1.80-1.90’s going into 2025.