Cheese production slows growth in the US high-protein market

Even though American cheese exports are breaking records again this year, the growth in cheese production and exports is too small to meet the rapidly expanding market for high-protein products. This was stated by market research firm McCully at a whey congress in Chicago. Especially in the US, demand for products such as WPC80 and WPI90 increased so strongly that, despite rising cheese production, less WPC80 and WPI90 can be exported this year than last year. Data from the American dairy export bureau for the first half of 2026 confirm this. Compared with the same period last year, almost 8,500 tonnes less WPC80 and WPI90 crossed the border in the first half of this year. The domestic market absorbs almost all available product. The cause is the exploded demand for whey products with a high protein content, caused in particular by the use of GLP1 agents. Global trade in for example WPC80 has also fallen sharply, despite a 12% higher export from New Zealand (1,227 tonnes) and a slightly higher export from the EU. The availability of WPC80 and WPI90 depends on cheese production. The more that is produced, the more whey becomes available. That is the raw material for all high-protein products. Although exports declined, the importance of high-protein whey products for the cheese industry is growing rapidly. Until recently, these products accounted for only about 20% of the profitability of the sector, but currently this share has already risen to about 50%. The price of WPC80 reached a peak in July of this year. From mid-August, the price in the US steadily declined. WPI90 remains more in demand and is also holding its price better. Under the influence of strong demand for high-protein products, the price of among others WPC34 and regular whey powder has also risen sharply.