$150B farm succession challenge looms for NZ agriculture
Within the next 10 years, New Zealand agriculture will need to manage its largest-ever intergenerational transfer of wealth, conservatively valued at $150 billion in farming assets.
Yili, which operates Westland Dairy Company and Oceania Dairy, has consolidated its position among the top five dairy companies in the world.
Rabobank’s Global Dairy Top 20 puts the Chinese dairy giant in fifth place, ahead of Fonterra but below companies like Lactalis and Nestlé.
Yili retains its spot for the ninth year in a row.
A spokesperson for Yili says the report highlights intense competition across the industry, with combined turnover of the Global Dairy Top 20 companies jumping by 9.3% in US dollar terms, following a 0.1% decline in 2021.
“Due to its acquisition of Ausnutria Dairy and strong domestic sales growth, Yili has become Asia’s first dairy producer to exceed RMB 100 billion (USD 14.85 billion) in turnover,’’ the spokesperson says.
In 2021, Yili achieved 8% growth in overseas revenue, with its products covering over 60 countries and regions across five continents.
In New Zealand, Yili has upgraded production and doubled the capacity of Westland Milk Products’ Hokitika butter plant.
New Zealand milk production is off to a strong start, with the first month of the 2025/26 dairy season recording a whopping 17.8% jump in milk production, compared to the previous season.
With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.
Keep up with innovation and e-commerce in China or risk losing market share. That was the message delivered at the China Business Summit in Auckland this month.
Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says getting meat processors involved has been a shot in the arm for the sector's key marketing initiative into China, Taste Pure Nature.
Listed carpet manufacturer, Bremworth is undertaking a $6 million expansion at its Napier plant more than two years after the site was heavily damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Federated Farmers is vowing to keep the big banks accountable for their actions and to continue pushing for meaningful change in the rural lending sector.
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