Nimble New Zealand exporters finding opportunity amid shifting trade terms
Global trade wars and uncertain tariff regimes could play into the hands of many New Zealand exporters, according to Gareth Coleman ANZ’s Head of Trade & Supply Chain.
Dairy products led a rise in total exports in October, but meat and offal exports were down from the same month last year, Statistics New Zealand says.
In October 2016, total goods exports rose $85 million (2.2%). Dairy exports rose $122 million (13%) to $1.1 billion. Butter rose $61 million (29%) and milk powder rose $57 million (12%).
“We exported more butter for a higher price this month than October last year,” international statistics manager Jason Attewell says. “We also exported more milk powder, but prices were similar.”
In October, meat and edible offal exports, our second-largest export commodity group, fell $71 million (18 percent) from October 2015. Beef and lamb exports to the key market of China were down.
Other significant commodity group changes were forestry products, up $74 million (25%), and fruit, up $42 million (40%), led by kiwifruit (up $33 million).
The monthly trade balance was a deficit of $846 million (22% of exports). Excluding one-off imports, the monthly trade deficit was $592 million.
For the year ended October 2016, the annual trade deficit was $3.3 billion.
Meat co-operative, Alliance has met with a group of farmer shareholders, who oppose the sale of a controlling stake in the co-op to Irish company Dawn Meats.
Rollovers of quad bikes or ATVs towing calf milk trailers have typically prompted a Safety Alert from Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation dedicated to fostering a safer farming culture across New Zealand.
The Government has announced it has invested $8 million in lower methane dairy genetics research.
A group of Kiwi farmers are urging Alliance farmer-shareholders to vote against a deal that would see the red meat co-operative sell approximately $270 million in shares to Ireland's Dawn Meats.
In a few hundred words it's impossible to adequately describe the outstanding contribution that James Brendan Bolger made to New Zealand since he first entered politics in 1972.
Dawn Meats is set to increase its proposed investment in Alliance Group by up to $25 million following stronger than forecast year-end results by Alliance.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.