Good times return
Following several years of pain, farmers and growers are facing a decent upswing in commodity prices, say economists.
The bank’s head of research Stephen Toplis says current market conditions are lifting expectations.
Global dairy prices have lifted strongly this year: the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) Index is 44% above year earlier levels and 29% above its five-year average.
Strong demand from China, relatively muted global milk supply, disrupted supply chains, a lower US dollar, aggressive global fiscal and monetary stimulus, and higher oil prices are all adding to current dairy price buoyancy.
Toplis says the combination of high global prices and a relatively contained NZ dollar is a very positive mix for milk price payments to farmers.
“Put it this way, if current product prices and currency levels remain as they are for the entire full season ahead then our calculations suggest that would translate into a milk price around $9,” he says.
“That is not our forecast. But it gives a sense of the current strength in the market.
“We have been of the view that product prices will ease from current levels over the coming 12 months as global supply responds to the recent run up in prices. That is what usually happens when prices lift, such are the dynamics of a typical commodity price cycle. But the chances of this response being reduced or delayed have increased.”
A very large rise in global grain prices over recent months has shifted BNZ’s thinking. For example, US corn prices have jumped nearly 40% over recent weeks to be well over twice what they were a year ago. “The speed of escalation is among the fastest on record, as strong demand (including from China) bumps up against some weather-related issues on the supply side, says Toplis.
“Such things will be worth watching ahead as an influence on the potential persistence of the current strength in global dairy prices. Likewise, weather issues also sees much more US pasture that is in poor condition compared to what is usually the case. In the UK, hay prices have ramped higher. Meanwhile, future NZ milk supply is likely to be constrained by environmental limitations.”
Higher production costs for NZ’s northern hemisphere competitors make an aggressive global milk supply response to current high dairy prices less likely.
“Indeed, the current milk price to feed ratio in the US for example, suggests milk production growth is more likely to slow – rather than lift – into the end of this year,” he says.
“This raises the chances that recent global dairy price strength sticks around for a bit longer and any price decline is slower than would be the case had competitor costs not lifted so sharply.
“Even with our expectations of a higher NZ dollar, the above developments see us lifting our 2021/22 milk price forecast to $7.80,” he says.
Fonterra is set to announce its opening forecast milk price for the new season within two weeks.
