CENTRAL: Midwestern butter makers report demand is expectedly strong. In some cases, outside of contracts, butter producers do not have availability for spot buyers.

Micro-fixing remains priority number one for plants remaining open most of the week, but some producers are closing plants for multiple days, and throughout the weekend. Cream is more available, but not as much as was expected during the holiday week. Some Central region butter churns are clearing cream from the West, as locally produced cream is continuing to make its way into Class II manufacturing within the region. Butter markets are steadily bullish.

NORTHEAST: Butter manufacturing is active and expected to increase over the course of the holiday week. While Class II operations have pulled heavily on the region’s cream volumes, butter producers in the region are set to receive and process holiday surplus cream to balance the good seasonal butter demand and the restocking of uncommitted butter inventory. Eastern cream multiples are expected to dip as low as the mid-120s this week. Overall orders slowed this week, but fill-in orders do occur.

WEST: Print production is still active as it is being used to fulfill last minute grocery store orders. Most processors have previously shipped their Thanksgiving orders and are preparing to churn more cream when other processing facilities close for the holiday. As transportation allows, eastern buyers are sourcing their butter needs in the West due to limited butter availability in their region. In general, butter supplies in the West are balanced with current demand. Retail and club store requests for print butter are very good.