07/08/08 US dairy export to oil-rich Middle East

USDEC, the US Dairy Export Council has been working in the Middle East for many years conducting seminars and researching target countries to grow US exports. USDEC's Nina Bakht is based in Beirut, Lebanon. She says market conditions in the oil rich Middle East have changed. BAKHT "Higher oil prices contributed to higher incomes among Middle Easterners. This opened the door for high-quality U.S. dairy ingredients and products. USDEC saw the increase in incomes as an opportunity to grow the pie of possible outlets for U.S. dairy production." Bakht says countries like Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and others are becoming strong customers for US whey proteins and lactose. USDEC is working in that part of the world to increase understanding of high quality US dairy ingredients and products. BAKHT "The Export Council invited seven Middle Eastern bakery and confectionery manufacturers to the United States, and provided demonstrations using U.S. dairy ingredients." Using programs like that helped to double the value of US whey protein exports to the Middle East, reaching nearly 14 million dollars last year. Bakht says USDEC with support from American dairy producer checkoff dollars will continue to drive demand for US dairy, not only in the Middle East, but around the globe. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott