Strong Interim Results See Fonterra Boost Farmgate Milk Price to $9.70/kgMS
Fonterra says its interim results show continued momentum in its performance, with revenue of $13.9 billion in the first half of the 2026 financial year.
The growth of Australia’s dairy industry is now down to the two main players Fonterra and Saputo, says dairy analyst Steve Spencer.
At issue is the commitment of the two large players and how they can restore trust in the industry for farm investors and owners, he says.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last week approved Saputo’s takeover of beleaguered co-op Murray Goulburn; the takeover when completed will leave no big dairy co-ops in Australia.
With MG in its fold, Canadian dairy giant Saputo will edge out Fonterra to become Australia’s largest dairy player.
The ACCC decision requires Saputo to sell the MG Koroit Plant in western Victoria.
Spencer, Fresh Agenda, told Dairy News he wasn’t surprised by the ACCC’s decision. For the Australian dairy industry, it means competition will not ease, he says.
“Another player will get a larger foothold with access to Koroit and its milk supply and there will be no dairy co-op in the future.”
Spencer noted that MG has been in a weak state for years.
“So the nature of processor-farmer relations, the market shares of milk intake and the product mix of the industry will evolve further.
“We’ve got a fair way to go before change is over. I’m not sure it means the industry will grow as a consequence of the loss of MG, but that depends on the commitment of the two large players and how they can restore trust in the industry for farm investors and owners.”
Silver Fern Farms chief executive Dan Boulton says the meat processor wants to find ways of getting product destined for Middle East markets into those markets as opposed to try and place them elsewhere.
The current Middle East war could not have happened at a worse time for New Zealand.
This week, more than 100 farmers, policy makers, politicians and other industry influencers will gather at the annual Dairy Environment Leaders (DEL) Forum to workshop positive environmental change for New Zealand dairy.
Fonterra says its interim results show continued momentum in its performance, with revenue of $13.9 billion in the first half of the 2026 financial year.
New Zealand's diverse cheesemaking talent shone brightly last night as the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) crowned the champions of the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards.
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