Uruguay’s dairy exports saw a significant decline in January 2025, with a 12% drop in whole milk powder exports, a 30% reduction in cheese exports, and modest growth in butter exports.
Uruguay, a significant player in global dairy exports, experienced a notable decline in its dairy exports in January 2025. The National Milk Institute (Inale), which oversees the dairy sector in the country, reported a 12% decrease in the volume of whole milk powder exports compared to January 2024. This decline reflects the broader challenges faced by Uruguay’s dairy industry, which has seen a drop in export revenue, totaling $79.8 million in January—3% lower than the previous year.
The most significant reduction was observed in cheese exports, which fell by 30%, amounting to just $8.7 million. In contrast, butter exports showed a positive performance, growing by 55% to reach $9.1 million.
Whole milk powder remains the largest revenue-generating product in Uruguay’s dairy export portfolio, contributing $51.7 million. However, this still represents a 2% decline from the previous year. Skimmed milk powder exports also saw a decrease of 5%, totaling $4.3 million. The overall volume of whole milk powder exports was 13,921 tons, marking the 12% drop year-on-year, while skimmed milk powder exports amounted to 1,475 tons, a 3% decline.
Notably, butter exports demonstrated a strong 17% increase in volume, with 1,442 tons being shipped. The top markets for these exports included Algeria, Brazil, and Mauritania, which have been key destinations for Uruguay’s dairy products.
Inale’s report highlights a trend of decreasing international dairy prices, which have affected revenue despite higher sales volume in some segments. In January 2024, Uruguay had reported $82 million in dairy export revenues, marking a 7% decline from the previous year, primarily driven by reduced international prices.
