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Total US butter imports reached record levels in July 2018, driven by high imports of Irish butter, the US Department of Agriculture’s economic research service has found.
Some 77% (2,630m tonnes) of US butter imports in July came from Ireland in July. Total butter imports stood at 3,402m tonnes for July.
Irish butter contains at least 82% butterfat (compared with at least 80% for most US butter), is sourced from cows that are mainly grass-fed, and is usually sold at a premium, the USDA said.
“Irish butter’s higher butterfat content is marketed as being superior for baking and as more pure than lower butterfat options.
“The recent rise in butter imports from Ireland can be partly attributed to the success of this marketing strategy and Irish butter’s popularity with many well-known professional bakers and chefs,” the USDA said in a statement.
Consumption
In the US, per capita butter consumption has increased steadily over the last 10 years. Figures from the USDA show that per capita consumption of butter in the US stood at 2.6kg in 2017, up from 2.1kg in 2007.
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