Dairy articles — Vesper Blog

Why MPC isn't a clean swap for WPC80, but buyers are reaching for it anyway

As WPC80 hits historic highs, MPC is catching the spillover bid. See where the swap actually works, why prices are moving and what's next.

How highly accurate commodity forecasts are built - inside Vesper’s methodology

How Vesper builds commodity price forecasts: published accuracy across 4,000+ price series, the four input layers, and how to read a curve.

How the Middle East conflict reshaped US dairy commodity prices in weeks

When war broke out in the Middle East in March 2026, oil surged, supply chains scrambled, and dairy prices moved in ways that had...

US NFDM prices surged 90% in five months. Here's what's next.

From $1.18/lb in early December 2025 to a record of $2.2625/lb on May 4, 2026. The rally pushed NFDM to its highest level in 12 years.

Filling a gap in US dairy: the Vesper US SMP price benchmark

This US SMP price benchmark fills a gap in public US dairy reporting. Compare US, EU, and Oceania SMP side by side, with forecasts on each.

How WPC80 protein forecasts work

What actually goes into a WPC80 protein forecast? Foundation models, fundamentals, technical indicators, and the data behind it.

Inside the CME spot call: from daily settlement price to a forward-looking price forecast

How CME spot call prices work, who in US dairy relies on them, and how Vesper visualizes the same data alongside a forecast.

Why procurement managers pair USDA prices with price forecasts

USDA prices anchor your contracts but lag the market by weeks. See how an AI price forecast on the same USDA series turns a backward-looking

How the rise of GLP-1 is reshaping the dairy protein industry

How GLP-1 weight loss drugs are reshaping dairy protein demand and whey pricing: what buyers, sellers, and traders need to know.

How food manufacturers are responding to the GLP-1 trend

How 14 major food companies are responding to GLP-1 drugs with new products, reformulations, and billion-dollar strategic bets.

How GLP-1 drugs are shifting food demand: what 9 studies say

We broke down every major study and what it means for commodity demand, from dairy and sugar to poultry and fresh produce.

The US dairy herd replacement math that should worry every buyer

The US dairy herd is at its largest since 1993. But replacement heifer inventory just hit a record low. The math behind today's milk...

US butter stocks hit a 17% deficit despite record production. Here's what happened.

US butter production hit all-time highs in 2025 and early 2026. Stocks still fell 17% below prior-year levels. Read how record exports and...

US dairy's growing export dependency: what it means when the world buys your surplus

US dairy exports hit record levels across cheese, butter, and whey in 2025. That growth created a dependency that tariffs, currency...

WPC80 in 2026: why US buyers can't find product at any price

US WPC80 prices doubled from $5.80/lb to over $10.50/lb in six months. GLP-1 demand, production constraints, and a global investment...

The US dry whey market in 2025: How China tariffs and a protein boom pulled prices in opposite directions

Why the US dry whey market in 2025 was caught between trade tariffs with China and a protein boom. Here's the month-by-month breakdown.

US Butter Prices in 2025: From $2.50 to $1.45 in 12 Months

US butter prices fell 42% in 2025 as record milk fat production collided with weakening global demand. Here's the month-by-month story.

US cheese in 2025: 27% price drop in 12 months

How record US cheese production, new facility capacity, and European competition created a 27% price decline in 2025. A Month-by-month view.

US NFDM in 2025: How tariffs and global oversupply crushed the most export-dependent US dairy product

A month-by-month breakdown of why US NFDM and SMP prices collapsed in 2025 despite lower production. Tariffs and structural shifts explained.

US whey protein prices in 2025: How GLP-1 and the protein trend broke $10/lb for the first time

How changed consumer behaviour pushed US whey protein prices above the $10/lb mark. A month-by-month breakdown for procurement teams.

Major sports nutrition brands are telling consumers why whey prices are going up in 2026

WPC80 prices have quadrupled in three years. Here's why XXL Nutrition and Upfront publicly justified their price hikes and what the data...

How GLP-1 reformulation trends can impact your bottom line and how to quantify it with cost models

How GLP-1 trends are reshaping food reformulation, shifting ingredient costs, and procurement strategies for food products.

Milk chocolate bar manufacturing costs: where your money really goes

Raw materials are only 68.6% of your milk chocolate bar costs. Learn what makes up the remaining 31.4% and how to use cost models.

Protein power: how the weight loss medication boom is pushing FMCGs to rethink strategy

Protein power: how the weight loss medication boom is forcing FMCG players to rethink their product offerings and sourcing strategy

Behind the rollout of Vesper’s new marketplace for dairy trading: 10 Questions with Sebastiaan Laurenceau

Seb Laurenceau reveals how Vesper onboarded 100+ dairy companies to their digital trading platform, the challenges faced, and user feedback.

Why Vesper built a marketplace for dairy trading: 10 Questions with Alexander Sterk

CEO Alexander Sterk reveals why he built a digital marketplace for dairy trading, how 100+ companies made the switch, and his vision for '30.

Euronext to use Vesper Price Index in new Dairy Futures contracts

Vesper is excited to announce the launch of Euronext Dairy Futures contracts, settled on the Vesper Price Index for Butter and SMP, going live in 2026.

How soft wheat and butter price trends impact your bakery margins: A bakery cost modeling guide

Discover how soft wheat and butter price changes affect bakery margins through cost modeling examples and what key price drivers to monitor.

Butter vs Vegetable Oils in industrial baking: What procurement teams need to consider in 2026

Discover the key factors shaping the choice between butter and vegetable oils in industrial baking, from cost to shelf life.

Dairy procurement in 2025: Why it feels like hitting a moving target

Dairy procurement has never been straightforward, but 2025 presents a unique challenge: the market feels like a constantly moving target.

Fonterra’s approach to commodity risk, index pricing and the future of dairy

Discover how Fonterra’s President of Global Ingredients, Richard Allen, deals with volatility in the global dairy market.

Global dairy markets in flux: US tariffs, European FMD, and supply chain disruptions

Discover how new US tariffs, European FMD, and currency shifts are reshaping global dairy trade, from cheese exports to lactose market tightness.

Dairy Café Recap: Key 2025 Dairy Market Insights and Trends

Discover key 2025 dairy market insights, including trends, FMD impacts, New Zealand production. Stay ahead with actionable updates.

2024 Bakery Costs Unpacked: Butter Highs, Sugar Lows, and the Outlook for Ingredients

Explore 2024 bakery cost trends: soaring dairy, stable eggs, and falling sugar prices, plus insights into 2025 market expectations.

2024 Cheese Market Resilience Amid Dairy Volatility: Trends, Challenges, and 2025 Outlook

Explore the 2024 cheese market's resilience amid dairy volatility, production growth, supply challenges, and the outlook for 2025.

2024 Chocolate Market Turmoil: Cocoa Prices Surge Amid Supply Shortages and Dairy Volatility

Explore the 2024 chocolate market’s challenges with soaring cocoa prices, volatile dairy costs, sugar relief, and what 2025 holds for manufacturers.

2024 Fortified Foods Sector: Protein Ingredient Pressures, Market Growth, and Emerging Trends

Explore the 2024 fortified foods sector: protein ingredient pressures, market growth, and emerging trends in protein-enriched products.

2024 Infant Nutrition Market: Rising Ingredient Costs, Dairy Protein Pressure, and Oil Volatility

Discover the 2024 infant nutrition market: rising ingredient costs, dairy protein pressures, oil volatility, and 2025 challenges ahead.

Navigating 2024 Confectionery Challenges: Cocoa Surge vs. Sugar Price Drop

Explore 2024 confectionery trends with rising cocoa costs for chocolate and falling sugar prices for sugar-based products.

New Partnership with eDairy News

We’re excited to share our new collaboration with eDairy News, a leading global dairy news platform, bringing fresh market insights.

How Vesper is Evolving Price Transparency in Sports Nutrition Commodities

Learn how Vesper provides price transparency for sports nutrition commodities, helping procurement managers secure better prices.

The Limitations of Using SMP to Estimate MPC70 Prices – Vesper’s New MPC70 Price Benchmark Offers the Solution

Discover how Vesper is bringing transparency to MPC70 pricing, helping businesses make informed decisions with reliable, up-to-date data

Breaking Down the Chocolate Bar: Yearly Ingredient Price Fluctuations

Understand the key factors driving price fluctuations in chocolate bar ingredients. Powered by Vesper's market intelligence.

Navigating the Complex World of Dairy Commodities with Marc Perathoner from FrieslandCampina

Join Marc Perathoner from FrieslandCampina as he explores dairy market trends, pricing strategies, and industry challenges.

Top 3 Most Used Datasets: How Vesper Supports Agricultural Procurement Managers in Strategic Buying

This article dives into the top 3 most used datasets that help procurement managers enhance their procurement strategies.

From Risk Management to Sustainability: A Deep Dive into Dairy Trading with Interfood’s CCO, Edwin van Stipdonk

Explore Edwin van Stipdonk's strategies for managing risks and promoting sustainability in the dairy trading market, from Interfood's CCO.

Plant-Powered Performance: Can Plant-Based Protein Powders Keep Up with Whey in 2026?

The sports nutrition landscape is evolving, with growing demand for plant-based protein powder among athletes seeking alternatives to whey.

Vesper adds caseinate prices to their pricing benchmark - boosting transparency in sports nutrition sourcing

Announcing the addition of two new products to the Vesper Price Index (VPI): Caseinate, Calcium Food, and Caseinate, Sodium Food.

Top 7 Insights into US Dairy Market Trends: Prices, Production, and Forecast for 2024

In the global agriculture market, the US dairy market stands out as a global powerhouse, both in terms of production and consumption.

Vesper Partners with Stable, Integrating Independent Price Benchmark for Enhanced Risk Management

We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Stable, the global leader in supply chain insurance, and what it means for procurement teams.

Exploring the impact of farming practices on the global dairy market - 10 questions with Philipp Goetz, Head of Sales and Business Development at IFCN

Dive into the impact of farming practices on the global dairy market in our in-depth interview with Philipp Goetz of IFCN.

Effective Dairy Price Tracking: Top 3 Strategies

Stay ahead of the market and discover three key strategies for effective dairy price tracking, explained in this article.

Non-Fat Dry Milk: 2023 Market Recap and 2024 Outlook for the US market

Explore a 2023 market recap and 2024 outlook for Non-Fat Dry Milk (NFDM) and Skim Milk Powder (SMP), covering key US market trends and forecasts.

5 key drivers of milk production output: the cornerstone of the dairy supply side

Explore the five pivotal factors influencing milk production volumes. Check out historical milk production trends, supported by Vesper's data.

Exploring European Trade Agreements for dairy commodities – 10 questions with Jukka Likitalo, Secretary General at Eucolait

Explore the European Dairy Trade Agreements with Jukka Likitalo, Secretary General at Eucolait, in this insightful interview.