Fonterra's record forecast organic milk price
Fonterra has announced a record forecast opening organic milk price of $12.30/kgMS for the new season.
The Global Dairy Trade lift overnight of 2.6% is broadly in line with expectations, says ASB rural economist Nathan Guy.
The overnight lift was the third auction out of the last four to record a price lift.
However, by product the auction was more mixed relative to expectations, he says in his 'Quickview' outline.
"Key WMP prices rose bang in line with expectations, while the anticipated jump in SMP prices was absent (futures prices had hinted at a lift in excess of 5%). Instead, SMP prices actually fell 0.9%.
"Elsewhere, butter milk powder (up 16.2%) and anhydrous milk fat (up 4.9%) regained some of their recently lost ground. Butter prices posted a 3% increase, while casein (up 0.3%) also lifted marginally. Cheddar (down 0.8%) was the other main product we monitor to post a fall."
In terms of the price outlook, the auction result is somewhat moot given this was the smallest auction for the year, he says. ASB is sticking to its $3.90/kgMS forecast for 2015/16.
Attention now quickly turns to 2016/17. Fonterra provides its new season forecast next Thursday. And while we expect the milk price to ultimately end at $6/kgMS, Fonterra's starting point forecast for the season will be much lower.
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