By Jamie Martin
The International Dairy Foods Association has announced the launch of Project Diversify; a new program aimed at expanding opportunities for US dairy exports through data driven decision making. The initiative is designed to help exporters identify fast-growing global markets and support long-term trade growth.
In 2025, US dairy exports reached nearly $9.51 billion, representing a 15% increase from the previous year. This record performance reflects strong international demand for American dairy products and underscores the importance of expanding into new markets to sustain growth.
Project Diversify evaluates export opportunities using a consistent analytical framework. The assessment considers demand growth, dependence on dairy imports, market stability, trade relationships, and regulatory conditions. These factors help exporters better understand market risks and opportunities.
“Market diversification is central to the future of U.S. dairy exports—opening new avenues for growth, expanding global reach, and ensuring American dairy remains competitive in an evolving global marketplace,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “A diversified export and trade strategy that includes both market and product expansion creates opportunity and positions the industry for continued growth.”
The inaugural report under Project Diversify focuses on western Africa. The region includes 16 countries and shows rising demand for dairy products due to population growth and changing consumer preferences. The analysis highlights Nigeria, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire as the most attractive markets in the region.
“Identifying markets with strong demand and import needs can help position U.S. dairy for long‑term growth,” said Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president, trade, and workforce policy at IDFA. “Project Diversify applies a consistent, data-backed framework to identify where diversification opportunities are strongest. We look forward to working with our members and policymakers to turn those insights into strategic action”
In the future, Project Diversify will introduce interactive tools to help exporters compare markets and explore opportunities across different regions and dairy product categories. These resources are expected to support more strategic and resilient global expansion for the US dairy industry.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-r-j-seymour
Categories: National