Oceania: dairy commodities prices unchanged [News Oceania n°7/2016]

Period: March 21 – April 1, 2016

AUSTRALIA

• Weather situation: rains in Northern Australia have helped pasture growth in coastal regions.
• Milk Producers: hay trading has been slow. In Western Australia currently stable hay prices are expected to increase. In Northern Australia the rain enhanced the ability of producers to utilize home grown feed. The corn harvest has begun in southern states, which has led to some relief from using stored feed.

NEW ZEALAND

• Milk production: in February increased by +5.64% if compared to February 2015.
• Milk Producers: there is significant discussion among dairy producers in New Zealand, expressing anxiety over recent reduction in the previously forecast payout for milk.

MILK PRODUCTION

• Australia *: -0.74% (Jul 15 – Feb 16 vs. Jul 14 – Feb 15)
• New Zealand *: -1.81% (Jun 15 – Feb 16 vs. Jun 14 – Feb 15)

BUTTER (82%): prices unchanged. There is increasing anxiety concerning lower export volumes. Manufacturers feel that further price concessions are not feasible in terms of production costs and milk pay prices.

CHEDDAR CHEESE: prices unchanged. The exports increase is enough over the production increase to be favorably received. Production volumes and inventory levels are such that manufacturers are comfortable with exports at current volumes.

SMP: prices unchanged. Dairy Australia reports that January SMP production in Australia was 15.5% lower than January 2015. Lower production volumes in the face of higher exports from the region is helping decrease the inventories. However some milk may have shifted into WMP production.

WMP: prices unchanged. Dairy Australia reports that January WMP production in Australia was 30.2% higher than January 2015. WMP is a fundamental dairy export for the region. Higher January exports are a welcome indicator in the abstract, but higher production somewhat balances higher sales.

The prices of the main dairy commodities are unchanged, helped by an higher export of Cheese, SMP and WMP and the reduction of milk production.

Note: · Assessments about market trend are expressed in US$; · * Dairy season: July, 1st – June, 30th (Australia), June, 1st – May, 31st (New Zealand).

Source: USDA summarized by the CLAL Team

More informations about milk production in New Zealand and Australia are available on CLAL.it

CLAL.it – Butter prices in Oceania, Germany and United States