Wednesday, 09 December 2020 11:55

Dine with a long spoon

Written by Milking It

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

OPINION: Some leaders in the New Zealand dairy industry will be keeping an anxious watch on the growing spat between China and Australia.

With China slapping hefty tariffs of Aussie exports like wine and barley and its senior government officials trading barbs over trade and political issues, fears are things could turn from bad to worse.

Australia has bounced back from its technical recession with solid growth figures and its politicians were quick to point out that they don’t need China for economic growth.

However, NZ cannot think like that. Fonterra accounts for 36% of all dairy imports into China. One dairy insider says the Oz/China impasse should give you chills. “Dine with a long spoon when you trade with China. They can turn the tap off for geo-political reasons any old time.”

More like this

Fonterra's Whareroa Wins Directors Award

Fonterra's Whareroa site took home the prestigious Directors Award at the co-op's 'Oscars of Manufacturing', while Clandeboye led the way with multiple wins at this year's Best Site Cup.

Dairy Holdings CEO Colin Glass Retires After 25 Years of Growth

After 25 years it is the right time to step away, says Colin Glass, the retiring chief executive of New Zealand's largest private corporate dairying company, Dairy Holdings.

Fonterra Expands China Foodservice Business with New Anchor Essence Cream

Fonterra is strengthening its foodservice presence in China with the launch of a new cream for professional bakeries at Bakery China 2026 in Shanghai.

Smith V Fonterra

OPINION: To a chorus of crying greenies, and not a minute too soon, the Government has moved to put the courts back in their place through proposed amendments to the Climate Change Response Act 2002, intending to limit climate litigation claims such as Smith v Fonterra, in the interests of providing greater certainty for vital industry.

Fonterra Opens 2026/27 Milk Price Forecast At $9.75kgMS

For the third season in a row, Fonterra farmers are in for a farmgate milk price near $10/kgMS.

Featured

Paynes Titus Excelsior ET Wins Sire of the Season Award

Paynes Titus Excelsior ET, an LIC bull bred by Brad Payne and Claire Brodie in the Waikato, has won the JT Thwaites Sire of the Season 2026 Award.

Hurst Is New Feds President

South Canterbury farmer Colin Hurst has been elected as the new president of Federated Farmers.

Dairy Exports Set to Reach $31 Billion by 2030, MPI Predicts

Dairy continues to be the mainstay of the country's primary export earnings.

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.

Jane Smith: Protecting Ravensdown's Co-operative Future for New Zealand Farmers

For Jane Smith, becoming a Ravensdown director has been a way she can actively contribute to something quite personal to her - protecting and strengthening a co-operative she deeply believes in.

Lactalis New Zealand Opens New Christchurch Distribution Centre

Lactalis New Zealand has opened a new distribution centre in Christchurch, marking a significant investment in the company's South Island supply chain capability.