China No Longer Just A Commodity Story - Luxon
China remains New Zealand’s biggest market, taking $23 billion of our exports, but it’s no longer a commodity story, says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Ever wondered what would happen if China attempted to become self sufficient in dairy?
Aside from the environmental degradation, one of the fears about dairy intensification in China was always, what happens when China can simply reproduce that same basic bargain bin milk powder product even more cheaply than NZ can?
Well, we got a glimpse last week.
A2 Milk Co, the global champion of A2 infant formula, this month lost $1 billion value of stock after China unveiled a plan to boost local output and reduce reliance on imports.
Under the new programme, China aims to exceed 60% self sufficiency in baby formula and improve the quality of domestic brands in its US$27 billion infant formula industry.
Farmgate lamb prices are down by 8%, beef cattle by 4.5% and farm expenditure up by 4.2%.
Kiwifruit growers are watchful but remain optimistic as concerns around the potential effects of the El Niño weather pattern this season.
Almond hulls sourced from Australian orchards may have the potential to help New Zealand cows reduce emissions, boost milk yield and lower input costs.
Striking a balance between meeting the needs of industry to speed up approval time for products but on the other hand ensuring that risks are properly assessed.
Surprised, humbled and quite thrilled. That’s the reaction of James Allen, one of the founding partners and now chief executive of AgFirst, on being made a life member of the Institute of Rural Professionals.
OPINION: It seems Canterbury processor Synlait is still in the doldrums.
OPINION: Get offside with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at your own peril.