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.
Fonterra chairman Peter McBride says the co-operative ended the 2021 financial year in a strong position on several fronts – financial results, strategy implementation and relationship with farmer owners.
Speaking at the co-op’s annual general meeting in Invercargill today, McBride noted that despite all of the disruption at home and in global markets, Fonterra performed well.
“This demonstrates the value of a New Zealand owned co-operative of scale,” he says.
“Fonterra’s scale gives us a level of optionality that is unique in New Zealand dairy.
“It enables us to manage risk and uncertainty on behalf of our kiwi farming families.
“We have benefited greatly from our ability to move your milk between the markets, categories and products that deliver the most value.”
The AGM is being held in-person and online because of Covid travel restrictions in Auckland.
Fonterra’s management team, including chief executive Miles Hurrell, are taking part virtually. Fonterra’s Auckland and Australia based directors are also attending virtually.
McBride noted that for many Fonterra team members, 2021 has been incredibly tough.
“Many of our international team are working away from home, or in densely populated cities where COVID is rife.
“I’d like to use this opportunity to say a thank you to all of our international team on behalf of us farmers.”
He says the hard work and commitment of Fonterra people was reflected in its key 2021 financial results:
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.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…