Fonterra FY26 Results: $9.69 Milk Price, $3.4bn Profit
Fonterra has unveiled its annual results for the 2026 financial year, posting $27 billion in revenue and close to $20 billion returned to New Zealand farmer owners and unit holders.
Pineapple-flavoured milk and cream are two of the products being churned out by Fonterra's new $120 million UHT milk processing site at Waitoa in the Waikato.
The state-of-the-art milk plant, equipped with Tetra Pak machines, was opened today by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy.
The pineapple milk, known as 'kid's milk', is popular in China. Anchor UHT cream packs made at the plant are sold to food service industry in Asia.
The UHT plant will have five production lines when fully operational. Today, two lines were operating- making cream and kid's milk.
Fonterra chairman John Wilson says there is provision to expand to eight production lines.
"We expect that to happen quite soon....in a couple of years. But it will happen once we fill the existing lines and when there is demand."
Fonterra managing director global operations Robert Spurway says 1200 staff and contractors were involved in the 12-month project.
"We are very proud of the finished plant," he says.
At full capacity the plant can produce 28 packets of UHT milk per second. It employs 80 people.
The opening of the plant was attended by Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings and Tetra Pak's global head Denis Jonsson. A group of Chinese food service industry leaders also attended the opening.
*Read the full story oon the new UHT milk plant in the November 11 issue of Dairy News.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.
Meat Industry Association data, released alongside the Red Meat Sector conference in Wellington, shows export value climbing across the US, China, UK and Canada.
Applications are set to open for the 2027 Zanda McDonald Award, a trans-Tasman award recognised for identifying and fast-tracking talented young leaders in agriculture and agribusiness.
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.

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