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Kara McDonald
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Vibrant ASEAN Market Turning to Quality, Reliable U.S. Dairy Supply for Growth
U.S. dairy suppliers deliver a plethora of flavorful and functional dairy ingredients

Singapore, April 17, 2015 - Southeast Asia's thriving food manufacturing and foodservice industries are seeking reliable suppliers to satisfy consumers' rising demand for dairy-based foods and beverages. As Southeast Asia's interest in dairy expands, the U.S. dairy industry can offer its plethora of flavorful and functional dairy ingredients to fill the gap. The United States is the largest single-country exporter of whey ingredients, lactose, skim milk powder and cheese, and U.S. dairy producers are committed to fulfill food and beverage manufacturer needs to help drive their businesses forward.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations is the second largest market for U.S. dairy exports, trailing only Mexico.

"Southeast Asian food and beverage sectors require a range of dairy products to reflect sophisticated regional dairy needs - some more stringent than any buyer in the world," said Thomas M. Suber, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council® (USDEC). "Our U.S. suppliers can produce hundreds of high-quality dairy ingredients to meet varying tastes, mineral contents, functional properties and more."

This was one topic discussed in a series of sessions April 16 and 17 during the U.S. Dairy Business Conference, hosted by the USDEC in Singapore. Foodservice operators and food and beverage manufacturers connected with U.S. dairy suppliers to gain actionable insights on global market trends and product developments driving worldwide demand for U.S. dairy.

Highlights from the conference include:

• Renowned trends analyst Lu Ann Williams, director of innovation with Innova Market Insights, shared top trends shaping new product introductions in the global food industry. Several of the leading trends for 2015 have a strong link to dairy, such as the move from "clean to clear label," "convenience for foodies," "snacks rise to the occasion," and "more in store for protein."
• Suber discussed how the U.S. dairy portfolio continues to expand offerings to meet Southeast Asian demand. U.S. dairy manufacturers, processors and traders today are focused on delivering the product selection, specifications and packaging global customers seek.
• An expert panel - featuring Kimberlee J. Burrington, dairy ingredients applications coordinator for the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research; Peter Gutierrez, vice president of global ingredient sales for Agri-Mark, Inc.; and Gabriel Sevilla, vice president of Proliant Dairy Ingredients - explored the wide usage possibilities of flavor-enhancing, sodium-reducing permeate. Data from Innova Market Insights affirm a sharp upward trajectory in global new product introductions containing permeate, which expanded at a 64% compound annual growth rate from 2010 to 2014.
• Angélique Hollister, vice president of cheese and consumer products marketing for USDEC, and cheese expert Mark Todd spoke about the storied history of U.S. cheesemakers. The U.S. cheese industry continues to expand and innovate today, helping meet the growing demand for commodity and specialty cheeses in Southeast Asia.

USDEC representatives across Southeast Asia carry out a variety of trade engagement programs each year, including hosting seminars, participating in trade shows and sharing timely market information. Their goal is to accelerate customer success with sourcing and using U.S. dairy. For more information on USDEC Southeast Asia, email info@dairyconnect.biz.

"The U.S. dairy industry is the largest milk producer in the world and offers advantages in supply security, long-term partnerships and accelerated growth," Suber said. "We can provide Southeast Asian food and beverage manufacturers the peace of mind they need when bringing innovative products to market on a global scale."

Visit www.ThinkUSAdairy.org for more information on utilization trends, recipe ideas and technical information to spark creativity in using U.S. dairy in new and innovative ways.

About U.S. Dairy Export Council
The U.S. Dairy Export Council® (USDEC) is a nonprofit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Funded primarily by the dairy checkoff program through Dairy Management Inc.^TM, the mission of USDEC is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products. USDEC accomplishes this through programs in market development that build global demand for U.S. dairy products, resolve market access barriers and advance industry trade policy goals. USDEC is supported by staff across the United States and in Mexico, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe.
The U.S. Dairy Export Council prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, political beliefs, marital status, military status, and arrest or conviction record.