Tuesday, 23 July 2024 12:55

Better than feared

Written by Peter Burke

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold.

Westpac chief economist Kelly Eckhold says last week's Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction went much better than feared.

Futures market pricing had suggested price falls in the 4-5% range after the last disastrous auction a fortnight ago. The market was thus rightly on edge, notes Eckhold.

"Overall prices rose slightly driven by a strong performance from the 'Fats' - Anhydrous Milk Fat 4%, Cheddar 6.2%, Butter 0.8%) while the 'Powders' fell - albeit by less than feared (Whole Milk Powder -1.6%, Skim Milk Powder -1.1%)," he says.

"We didn't see much of interest in the pattern of buyers - Middle Eastern buyers were better supporters of the auction this time. Chinese demand looks stable.

"Our forecast for the 2024-25 milk price remains unchanged at $8.40 with balanced risks. Of key interest will be the impact of weak Chinese economic growth, which recent data confirms is still travelling below trend, driven by a still weak consumer. That's not great news for soft commodities."

Featured

Massey University Wiltshire trial draws growing farmer interest

Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.