Friday, 03 December 2021 08:45

Fonterra raises forecast milk price

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Fonterra has raised its milk price to $8.40-$9/kgMS. Fonterra has raised its milk price to $8.40-$9/kgMS.

Fonterra farmers have received some good news this morning: a higher forecast milk price for this season.

The co-operative has lifted its 2021-22 forecast farmgate milk price range to $8.40 - $9.00/kgMS, up from $7.90 - $8.90/kgMS.

The midpoint of the range, which farmers are paid off goes up 30c to $8.70/kgMS.

However, the higher milk price is eroding profits from the co-op’s value added business.

Fonterra has revised its earnings guidance to 25-35c/share from 25-40c/share.

Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell says the lift in forecast milk Price range is good news and is an important boost to New Zealand communities.

With a midpoint of $8.70/kgMS, it would contribute more than $13.2 billion to the New Zealand economy.

“It’s the result of consistent strong demand for dairy at a time of constrained global supply,” says Hurrell.

“We’ve seen the impact of a number of events play out this first quarter. That includes the high price of feed in the US which has seen milk production growth stall and a lower-than-expected supply picture in Europe.”

Fonterra’s New Zealand milk supply is down around 3% on this time last season.

“While we expect that milk supply will be less than last season’s 1,539 million kgMS, the improving weather conditions and forecast milk collections for the balance of this season that are generally on par with last season support our current season forecast of 1,525 million kgMS,” says Hurrell.

“While we’ve seen demand soften slightly in China, global demand remains strong, and we think that will remain the case for the short to medium term.

“A higher forecast Farmgate Milk Price at this level can put pressure on our margins and therefore our earnings, which is why we’ve reduced the top end of our earnings guidance.”

More like this

Aussie farmers get A$8.60/kgMS as opening milk price

Australian dairy farmers supplying Fonterra are getting an opening weighted average milk price of A$8.60/kgMS for the new season or around NZ$9.26/kgMS -  NZ74c less than New Zealand suppliers, based on the current exchange rate.

Featured

Aussie farmers get A$8.60/kgMS as opening milk price

Australian dairy farmers supplying Fonterra are getting an opening weighted average milk price of A$8.60/kgMS for the new season or around NZ$9.26/kgMS -  NZ74c less than New Zealand suppliers, based on the current exchange rate.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Silver Thin Farms

OPINION: The Hound hears that tension was in the air at the recent Silver Fern Farms AGM, with the board…

Bugs for lunch

OPINION: The ongoing saga of the quality of school lunches continues.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter