Wednesday, 18 March 2020 08:29

Covid-19 hangs over dairy prices

Written by  Staff Reporters
Global dairy prices have slumped for the fourth consecutive time. Global dairy prices have slumped for the fourth consecutive time.

Global dairy prices have slumped for the fourth consecutive time in 2020 and coronavirus (Covid-19) is to blame.

The overnight Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction saw the price index drop by 3.9%; whole milk powder prices dropped 4.2% to US$2797/metric tonne.

Rabobank senior dairy analyst Emma Higgins says clearly the onset of coronavirus stalled the upward trajectory in global dairy prices visible in late 2019 and the corona hangover continues as evidenced by the GDT Event held overnight. 

She says last night’s results are now the fourth decline for 2020.

“The GDT Price Index moved lower by 4% with average prices now sitting below USD 3,000/tonne (USD 2,980/tonne). This is now in line with average prices back in January last year. Buyers and sellers are still scrambling to assess the market impact as the spread of the virus moves from China to more broadly across the globe.”

Key results

AMF index up 1.0%, average price US$4,331/MT

Butter index up 0.3%, average price US$4,144/MT

BMP not offered

Ched index up 2.6%, average price US$4,398/MT

LAC index up 4.9%, average price US$914/MT

RenCas index up 1.0%, average price US$9,987/MT

SMP index down 8.1%, average price US$2,527/MT

SWP index not available, average price not available

WMP index down 4.2%, average price US$2,797/MT

More like this

Editorial: Morale booster

OPINION: The first three Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auctions have been a morale booster for farmers.

Featured

Editorial: Fuelling Hype

OPINION: For some of us the threat of a fuel crisis is something we have dealt with before and are still here to tell the tale.

National

Trev Integrates with LIC MINDA

Farm software outfit Trev has released new integrations with LIC, giving farmers a more connected view of animal performance across…

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Happy Days

OPINION: The good news keeps getting better for NZ dairy farmers.

Begging Bowl

OPINION: With export of livestock by sea dead in the water, opponents of the Gene Technology Bill think they can…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter