After a notable price correction, DCA Cheddar benchmarks have stabilized, but the recovery remains fragile and uneven compared to other cheeses. Beneath the surface, strong milk availability and expanding production in Ireland, the UK, and Eastern Europe continue to weigh on the market, even as exports grow. At the same time, trade flows reveal a quiet but significant shift, with EU buyers increasingly substituting UK-origin Cheddar in favor of New Zealand and US products.
Analysis|Published: Feb 12, 2026
DCA Market Intelligence powder benchmarks showed mixed results in week 7 (February 12). SMP food prices shifted from a highly positive sentiment last week to an accelerated price correction, resulting in an overall decline. Meanwhile, the remaining benchmarks reported moderate weekly increases.
Analysis|Published: Feb 12, 2026
The cheese market continued to observe positive momentum in week 7 (February 12), with most of DCA Market Intelligence’s cheese benchmarks rising compared to the previous week, except for Emmentaler and Cagliata. Gouda and Mozzarella drove most of the increase, reflecting the tight availability perceived in the market, while the Cheddar complex and Naturally Ripened Gouda increased at a more moderate pace. Contributor sentiment reflects ongoing momentum following last week's positive shift, despite strong production fundamentals.
Analysis|Published: Feb 11, 2026
Australia finished the year with a slight improvement in milk collections, although broader production trends remain under pressure. December marked the first annual growth since April, offering some relief after several months of contraction. However, the rebound does not offset the weakness observed earlier in the year, as structural challenges, weather conditions, and elevated input costs continue to challenge production.
Analysis|Published: Feb 5, 2026
Week 6 (February 5) observed an accelerated increase in DCA Market Intelligence’s powder benchmarks. This cemented a recovery observed across the last weeks, with the most important increases observed in SMP Food & Feed. WMP, Lactose, FFMP, and SWP Food reported a more moderate increase, while the only decline in the segment was reported in SWP Feed.
Analysis|Published: Feb 5, 2026
DCA Market Intelligence observed an overall increase in the whole cheese segment. Except for Emmentaler and Naturally Ripened Gouda, all cheese benchmarks increased over the previous week. Mozzarella and Cheddar Curd were the benchmarks with the highest increase. Contributors point to sentiment driving the pricing increase, while the milk production fundamentals in the EU remain mainly unchanged.
