Strong production, tested demand send milk prices crashing
Strong global milk production and rebalancing of demand among key buyers has delivered one of the biggest drops in whole milk powder prices in recent years.
Last week's whopping rise in dairy prices is encouraging, but it’s too early to pop the champagne, say analysts.
The NZ dairy season is into its second month and last week’s Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction was the third for the 2020-21 season. There are 22 more GDT auctions planned before the season ends May 31 next year.
RaboResearch analyst Michal Harvey says the key selling season for New Zealand is still a few weeks away but Fonterra (and other exporters with GDT plus price offerings) can lock away some product at decent prices.
“But we would still be cautious about calling a sustained lift in prices. The underlying fundamentals will mean global markets will need to price in high stocks on the buy and sell side, lower dairy demand in emerging economies as incomes are negatively impacted, and growing milk pools in all key export regions.”
The GDT price index rose 8.3% - the single biggest lift in the index price since late 2016. Most notably, the whole milk powder index price jumped 14% to US$3208/tonne.
Harvey says this takes the WMP index price back to a similar level to that of the start of the year, and remarkably 5% higher than at the same time last year.
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As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.
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