Wednesday 2nd December 2009 |
Text too small? |
The price of milk powder continued its march higher, climbing for the fifth straight month on Fonterra Cooperative Group’s online trading auction to a 15-month high as demand for dairy products remained resilient after last year’s slump.
The average price of whole milk powder advanced 3.6% to US$3,560 per metric ton, according to the globalDairyTrade website, the highest since August last year and a 95% surge from its low in July. The price of anhydrous milk fat fell 8.6% to US$4,349 per metric ton.
“It’s a very good result in that prices have remained stable,” said Kevin Wilson, ANZ National Bank rural economist. “Forward prices didn’t have as big a premium which suggests buyers are not so desperate to secure supply.”
Fonterra expects dairy prices to begin easing when the milking season in America and Europe begins in March/April next year, and global trade managing director Kelvin Wickham says the current prices are above the long-term sustainable average.
Surging dairy prices have helped underpin the recovery in New Zealand’s commodities as buyers restock their depleted inventories after they ran them down in the wake of the global financial crisis.
Manager of globalDairyTrade Paul Grave said the market was still supported by tight supply, though Fonterra expects more price volatility next year as suppliers respond to the surge since July.
Gains in commodities have been offset by a steadily climbing New Zealand dollar, which has surged about 47% from its sub-50 U.S. cents low in March. The kiwi recently traded at 72.70 cents from 72.79 cents before the results were announced.
New Zealand’s exports of milk powder, butter and cheese slumped 32% in October to $677 million from a year earlier, while casein and caseinates tumbled 43% to $58 million. Dairy products account for about 23% of the country’s annual $40.7 billion worth of exports.
Businesswire.co.nz
No comments yet
Second St John withdrawal of labour takes effect tomorrow with further strikes likely
Sanford Appoints Independent Director
CRP ADVISES CLOSURE OF SHARE OFFER TO EXISTING INVESTOR
Devon Funds Morning Note - 14 August 2024
OCR 5.25% - Monetary restraint tempered as inflation converges on target
Consumers still need due diligence as new deposit takers emerge.
Woolworths strike: staff asked to dress up in Disney costumes for a week on their own dollar
Turners Invests in Quashed Online Insurance Platform
PGW Reports on Challenging Year
Arvida Announces Executive Team Changes