A Year of Delivery for Fonterra
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
Fonterra has managed to sell only 1% of its stake in the troubled Chinese company Beingmate.
Chief executive Miles Hurrell says the co-op will continue to offer the shares on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange market.
Under the sharemarket rules it is only possible to sell up to 1% cent every 90 days directly on the exchange, or sell up to 2% in a single block every 90 days.
Trades greater than 5% can be made to an individual party in an off-market transaction.
Hurrell says the co-op is also willing to sell a larger stake off market to any interested party.
Fonterra paid $750 million for its 18.8% shareholding in March 2015, in a bid to gain access to Chinese consumers for its infant formula.
Last year Fonterra wrote down the investment by $439m which helped lead to its first ever annual loss of $196m.
Hurrell says apart from Beingmate, the co-op is reviewing its China Farms and Brazilian joint venture with Nestle.
He expects a decision on both these investments this financial year.
Three men have been sentenced in District Courts after Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutions over animal welfare, food safety and cattle tracing offences.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.