Uruguay dairy exports jump 31% in July 2026 as China import growth slows

Uruguay’s dairy sector saw a strong surge in external placements in July 2026, rising 31% year‑on‑year to US$95 million. The sector accounted for 8% of the country’s total exports, bringing the January‑July cumulative dairy export value to US$511 million, a 7% increase over the previous year. Brazil remained the top destination, receiving US$31 million (32% of Uruguay’s dairy shipments), while Algeria was the second‑largest market.

In parallel, China’s dairy imports moderated in the first half of 2026, with overall growth of only 0.7% compared with a 5.7% rise in the same period of 2025. Demand for cream and cheese continued to rise, with imports of cream up 8.4% to 152,000 tonnes and cheese up 24.8% to 121,000 tonnes. New Zealand stayed the leading supplier, followed by Australia, while Italy led European exports to China. Higher domestic milk‑powder prices reduced the economic advantage of imports, contributing to the slowdown.