MD_DA410
DA
MD DA410 BUTTER - NORTHEAST

MADISON, WI.  November 18, 2009 (Report 46)  

NORTHEAST BUTTER
The CME Group butter price maintained its yearly high, closing 
Tuesday, unchanged at $1.5250.  Cream supplies are tight in the 
Northeast, due to seasonal production declines and strong Class 
II manufacturing concerns.  Some plants continue to microfix 
inventories in order to fill holiday orders.
Foreign Agricultural Service report shows January - September 
2009 exports of butter total 31.7 million pounds, an 81% decrease 
compared to the same period last year.  Leading destinations for 
U.S. butter are Saudi Arabia at 12.1 million pounds, down 28.7% 
from a year ago, Mexico at 5.7 million pounds, down 19.4%, and 
Egypt at 2.7 million pounds, down 82.2% from a year ago.  Saudi 
Arabia, Mexico and Egypt accounted for 65% of the total U.S. 
Butter exports.  Imports of high tier and quota butter for the 
period January through October 2009 totaled 12.8 million pounds, 
242% more than the same period last year.  Imports of quota 
butter through October totaled 12.1 million pounds 78.6% of the 
annual quota.  

1100c Rick Whipp rick.whipp@ams.usda.gov