Brazilian dairy exports tumble 22.8% in June

Brazilian dairy exports fell sharply in June, while imports also declined, though at a slower pace. Overseas shipments dropped 22.75% from May to 4.49 million liters of milk equivalent, according to foreign trade data from Secex analyzed by the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics, or Cepea.

Dairy imports fell 4.17% over the same period, totaling 216.76 million liters of milk equivalent in June.

Compared with June 2025, however, imports and exports moved in opposite directions. Brazilian dairy imports rose 35.11%, while exports declined 12.92%.

As a result, Brazil’s dairy trade deficit narrowed 3.7% by volume from May, ending June at 212.28 million liters of milk equivalent. In value terms, however, the deficit widened 1.2% to $94.93 million.

Compared with a year earlier, the volume deficit increased 31.4%, reflecting higher imports and weaker Brazilian shipments.

Powdered milk dominates imports

Powdered milk accounted for 70.8% of Brazil’s total dairy import volume in June. Purchases reached 153.38 million liters of milk equivalent, down 2.08% from May.

Cheese represented 28.4% of dairy imports during the month. Volumes fell 9.32% from May to 61.66 million liters of milk equivalent.

Cheese and condensed milk lead exports

Cheese and condensed milk were Brazil’s leading dairy exports in June. Cheese accounted for 43.9% of total shipments, while condensed milk represented 21.9%.

According to Datamar export data, Brazil’s cheese exports reached 26 TEUs in the first five months of 2026, down 31.1%. The chart below shows the main destinations for these shipments:

Top Destinations for Cheese Exports | Jan-May 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Cheese exports fell 9.05% from May to 1.97 million liters of milk equivalent. Condensed milk shipments recorded a steeper decline of 35.37%, falling to 984,160 liters of milk equivalent.

The June figures underscore the continued pressure on Brazil’s dairy trade balance. Although the deficit narrowed by volume from the previous month, imports remain well above year-earlier levels, while exports continue to underperform.

Source: Cepea

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