fbpx
Print this page
Tuesday, 20 May 2025 11:55

Bakers prefer butter, helping prices soar

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Fonterra president global ingredients, Richard Allen. Fonterra president global ingredients, Richard Allen.

Consumers around the world are willing to pay more for products containing dairy and this is driving demand for butter and cream, says Fonterra.

The co-operative's president - global ingredients, Richard Allen says its bakery customers are switching from plant-based ingredients to dairy fats.

"Consumers in China and other parts of the world are seeing dairy ingredients as healthy and more premium and are willing to pay more for products containing dairy," Allen told Rural News.

"This is driving demand for our dairy products, including butter, as our bakeries customers to look for ways to switch from plant-based ingredients such as non-dairy cream, margarine and vegetable oils to UHT cream, butter and cheese."

His comments came as butter prices jumped another 3.8% on the last Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction, hitting a record US$7,992/tonne. Butter prices have risen in the last 10 consecutive GDT auctions, staying above the US$7,000/t mark since January this year.

Fonterra produces butter at Whareroa, Clandeboye, Te Rapa, and several other sites. This season, butter supply was impacted by the drought in the North Island.

"A period of drought in the North Island has reduced butter supply which was already tight with the end of the season approaching," says Allen.

"However, we have still been able to flex our mix to increase skim milk powder (SMP), protein streams that support butter production which is up on last season."

NZX dairy analyst Rosalind Crickett says butter volume restrictions have been a continuing theme on last year, particularly in the short-term.

She says demand outpacing supply has caused the series of new pricing records the product has been setting.

More like this

El Niño Summer: Terravest on Preparing Dairy Sheds Now

After a winter of frozen pipework and refrigeration call-outs, Terravest chief executive Kip Bodle and chief operating officer Luke Walker explain why this El Niño summer calls for a different kind of preparation, before the first heatwave finds the weak points for you.

Why 'Fork to Farm' Beats Farm to Fork, Expert Says

In the past, much has been made of the concept of farm to fork, but an Australian expert in food science and marketing with experience in the dairy industry, Dr Angeline Achariya, says the reverse of this slogan is critical to win modern day consumers.

Featured

Editorial: Drones Are Not Toys

OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.

Opuha Dam Commissions New Valve in Major Flood Safety Upgrade

Opuha Dam's ability to protect South Canterbury communities from major flooding has taken a significant step forward, with Opuha Water Limited (OWL) successfully commissioning a new outlet valve capable of releasing record volumes of water from the dam ahead of a weather event.

Freshwater Farm Plan Changes Welcomed by Primary Sector

There's been widespread support from the primary sector for the Government's announcement on changes to freshwater farm plans that come under the Natural Environment Bill, which is now set to replace the existing RMA.

National

Machinery & Products