Hard aged cheese imports in the United States: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of hard aged cheese by the United States reached $1.68 billion in 2024 (176.9 thousand tonnes). It ranks 2nd of 222 countries for imports of this product. Value rose 8% on 2023. Across 2017-2024 the long-run trend was broadly stable.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1.68B | 176.9K t |
| 2023 | $1.56B | 128.3K t |
| 2022 | $1.40B | 129.4K t |
| 2021 | $1.37B | 134.0K t |
| 2020 | $1.12B | 118.3K t |
| 2019 | $1.21B | 159.0K t |
| 2018 | $1.17B | 134.7K t |
| 2017 | $1.10B | 126.5K t |
Where the United States imports hard aged cheese from
The largest suppliers were Italy (28%), France (13%), Spain (8%). Trade is spread widely: the top three suppliers together make up only 49%.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | $473.7M | 28% |
| France | $220.6M | 13% |
| Spain | $129.0M | 7.7% |
| Switzerland | $127.6M | 7.6% |
| Netherlands | $112.4M | 6.7% |
| Ireland | $102.7M | 6.1% |
| United Kingdom | $85.9M | 5.1% |
| Greece | $83.1M | 4.9% |
| Canada | $73.2M | 4.4% |
| Nicaragua | $58.4M | 3.5% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $9.50 per kg, 57% above the world average of $6.07. This usually points to higher-grade or processed goods.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Hard aged cheese exports from the United States
The United States exported $1.03 billion of hard aged cheese in 2024 (207.7 thousand tonnes). That makes it the 6th largest exporter of this product worldwide, out of 158 countries. The largest buyer markets were Mexico (46%), Japan (11%), Canada (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Mexico grew fastest (+31% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Mexico | $479.2M | 47% |
| Japan | $111.3M | 11% |
| Canada | $77.6M | 7.5% |
| South Korea | $39.5M | 3.8% |
| Dominican Republic | $34.3M | 3.3% |
| Australia | $31.7M | 3.1% |
| Panama | $30.2M | 2.9% |
| China | $19.5M | 1.9% |
| Saudi Arabia | $19.2M | 1.9% |
| Guatemala | $16.9M | 1.6% |
Who is behind these numbers in the United States?
Public statistics stop at country totals and the last published year. EximDataX shows the shipment records underneath: the companies, dates, quantities and declared values, updated weekly.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Direct customs feed: shipment-level records from the official customs source.
Updated weekly on EximDataX (some markets daily), while public statistics stop at 2024.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 0406.90: Dairy produce: cheese (not grated, powdered or processed), n.e.c. in heading no. 0406.
Common questions
What is the value of hard aged cheese imported by the United States?
The United States imported hard aged cheese worth $1.68 billion in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 176.9 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 2nd of 222 countries worldwide, with 7% of world imports. The value was up 8% on 2023.
Which countries supply hard aged cheese to the United States?
Italy was the largest supplier with 28% of the value ($473.7 million), followed by France (13%) and Spain (8%). The top three together account for 49%, out of 71 supplier countries in total. France grew fastest among the top ten, up 18% on the year.
What is the average import price of hard aged cheese per kg?
The average declared import value was about $9.50 per kg in 2024, 57% above the world average of $6.07 per kg. It is total declared value divided by total weight, so it blends every grade and size; use it as a benchmark, not a quote. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
How have imports of hard aged cheese to the United States changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.10 billion in 2017 to $1.68 billion in 2024, an increase of 52%. 2024 was the highest year in the period. Monthly and weekly movements since then are in EximDataX.
Does the United States also export hard aged cheese?
Yes. The United States exported $1.03 billion worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Mexico, Japan and Canada. On balance the United States is a net importer of this product, by about $650.4 million a year.
What is the HS code for hard aged cheese?
The HS code for hard aged cheese is subheading 0406.90. It sits in HS chapter 04 (dairy produce; birds' eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 0406 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
Public statistics stop at country totals. EximDataX has a direct customs feed for the United States with shipment-level records, updated weekly, so you can see importers and exporters by name with dates, quantities and declared values. Tell us your product and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
More trade data for the United States
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.