The U.S. Dairy Export Council says dairy product exports in the third quarter are ahead of last year even with additional tariffs.

Dairy export values for the first three quarters are up four percent from last year at $4.25 billion, volumes are up 16 percent.

September dairy exports of more than 167,000 tons were valued at $435 million, up four percent.  For the month, nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder exports increased by 30 percent, with shipments to Mexico up 40 percent and exports to Southeast Asia more than doubling.  More than two-thirds of nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder in the U.S. has been exported this year, up almost 20 percent from the five-year average.

Record volumes of whole milk powder were also shipped to Southeast Asia in September, up 164 percent on the year.  Whey exports declined six percent for the month because of reduced demand from China.

Cheese exports were down nine percent for September and lower for the quarter.  Butterfat exports were up 168 percent with the largest increases in Mexico and Canada.  Fluid milk and cream exports were up 12 percent.