Strong production, tested demand send milk prices crashing
Strong global milk production and rebalancing of demand among key buyers has delivered one of the biggest drops in whole milk powder prices in recent years.
In the GDT auction overnight, SMP price rose 3.3% to $US3017/metric tonne, the highest level in five years.
Over the past few years SMP prices struggled due to the high stocks produced in the EU: huge stockpiles of SMP held by EU members have been holding prices down.
In August 2015, SMP prices slumped to US$1419/MT. Around this time last year, SMP was fetching only US$1965/MT.
The EU stocks are now dwindling and due to lower prices manufacturers have directed milk away from SMP into other product mixes, resulting in a shortage.
This has helped SMP prices reach the highest level seen in five years.
The GDT price index for last night’s auction rose 1.7% compared to the previous auction.
Whole milk powder price rose 2.2% to US$3321/MT.
Key results
AMF index down 1.5%, average price US$5,108/MT
Butter index down 1.3%, average price US$4,061/MT
BMP not offered
Ched index up 2.5%, average price US$3,701/MT
LAC index up 1.3%, average price US$775/MT
RenCas index up 5.6%, average price US$7,668/MT
SMP index up 3.3%, average price US$3,017/MT
SWP index not available, average price not available
WMP index up 2.2%, average price US$3,321/MT
