Processors, executives fined for exporting adulterated tallow
A group of meat processing companies, directors and managers have been fined a total of $1.6 million for deliberately and illegally altering exported tallow for profit.
The Government's much-publicised goal of primary exports hitting $64 billion by 2025 now looks like a pipe-dream.
Weak dairy prices are a severe drag on reaching the goal, as shown by the latest data from the Ministry for Primary Industries.
MPI's latest Situation and Outlook report, released last week, predicts that by 2020 exports will have reached just $44b; to achieve $64b would require 9.5% growth. The current growth rate is just 3.3%.
Dairy exports are down in value by 6% for the year ended June 2016 and MPI is not expecting any real recovery until 2018; even by 2020 the value of dairy exports is unlikely to equal the record high of 2014, the report says.
The future for meat and wool also makes glum reading, with just a 1% lift in prices.
Beef prices are expected to ease, but wool prices are at a five year record and are expected to remain firm because of lower production
The report says the two saviours of the economy have been the lower NZ dollar and the negligible effect of the El Nino summer weather.
Not surprisingly, horticulture – in particular kiwifruit and apples – turned up trumps with a massive 20% increase in value. Horticultural exports are now worth just on $5b and are predicted to rise to $5.7b in the next four years.
Transforming horticulture is the rise of kiwifruit, especially the SunGold variety. Kiwifruit exports are now $1.6b and are expected to hit $1.9b by 2020. Wine, apple and pear exports also contribute much to horticulture's rise in fortunes.
MPI says dairy will remain in the doldrums for at least another year until global stocks fall, which won't happen quickly. It predicts milksolids production in NZ will fall 1.6% in 2015-16, but will gradually increase to 2020.
New Zealand’s dairy sector cannot expect India to be a market for all its dairy products.
Meat processor ANZCO Foods’ net profit has plunged on the back of lower market returns which squeezed margins and impacted business performance.
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AgriZeroNZ has entered a new partnership with Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK.
Twenty rural community hubs across New Zealand will receive $5,000 to upgrade their facilities having been selected as the winners of Rabobank's Community Hub Competition.
As the dairy industry prepares to celebrate its top achievers at an awards night this Saturday, attendees are being warned to be aware of protests planned outside the venue – Baypark Arena, Mount Mauganaui.
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