MD_DA751 Casein - National Casein Report for U.S. Imports Report 20 - Released on May 16, 2019 Rennet and acid casein prices are steady. Following recent price increases, there is some uncertainty as to expectations for future pricing. Buyers are divided as to price expectations in coming weeks. This is leading to tentative transactional activity. Most current global casein production is occurring in the EU, where milk production is nearing the seasonal peak. Ireland, normally a leading EU casein producer, has been among the Western European countries with solid milk production increases above the EU average during 2019. Increased milk volumes in Ireland have benefitted casein production there. New Zealand, being near the seasonal low point, is not offering much new casein production, certainly not uncommitted production. One uncertainty moving forward is whether and how much milk production will increase from last year in other EU casein producing countries, such as France, which will bear on volumes available in markets. Prices for: Spot Sales And Up to 3 Month Contracts, Free on Board - Warehouse, Non- Restricted, All Mesh Sizes, Conventional, and Edible Casein Acid; Price Range - $/LB: 3.1025-3.2150 Rennet; Price Range - $/LB: 3.0275-3.1100 Information for the period May 13 - 17, 2019, issued weekly Secondary Sourced Information: U.S. casein imports January-March 2019, 12,000 MT, increased 4.7 percent from January-March 2018 according to CLAL data provided to USDA. The three primary sources, percent change January-March 2019/2018, and quantity, are shown in the following table. % Change Jan.-Mar. Jan.-Mar. 2019 Country 2019/2018 Quantity MT New Zealand -21.6 4,626 Ireland +32.4 3,395 France +46.9 1,433 Published by: Dairy Market News - Madison, WI Eric Graf, 608.422.8590 Email: Eric.Graf@usda.gov Additional Dairy Market News Information: Dairy Market News (DMN) by Phone: (608)422-8602 DMN Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN MARS (MyMarketNews): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/