Blank Canvas rides white wine wave as New Zealand wine sales soar in China
If you find a new consumer in a developed wine market, you are taking them from someone else, says Blank Canvas co-founder Sophie Parker-Thomson MW.
Demand for dairy products in China hangs on what further steps the Chinese Government takes to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Westpac market strategist Imre Speizer says there are risks to near-term demand which could be affected by coronavirus developments.
The steps that China has taken to contain the outbreak – such as extending the Lunar New Year holiday period, and limiting the movements of people – has kept many factories closed.
Speizer told Rural News has meant less demand for their inputs, including milk powder.
“These disruptions might prove to be short-lived, but that depends on what further steps the government might take to contain the spread of the virus.”
Last week, global prices tumbled; whole milk powder price dropped 6.2% to hover just above the US$3000/MT mark.
Speizer says the obvious explanation for last week’s decline is uncertainty regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
“Financial markets have been reacting to those developments for around two weeks, with global equities, interest rates, industrial commodities and risky currencies falling sharply,” he says.
“Moreover, whole milk powder futures prices had been falling since late January. It was unsurprising, then, that last week’s GDT auction followed suit.”
The forecast milk price also hinges on supply coming out of New Zealand: persistently dry conditions in the upper North Island and eastern South Island could see milk production fall short of what the market is expecting.
Fonterra figures show in December 2019, the co-op collected 184 million kgMS from farmer suppliers: 0.6% down for the same month in 2018, according to its monthly global dairy update.
Season to date collection was over 909m kgMS, 0.5% down on the previous season.
North Island milk collection in December was 106.4 million kgMS, down 2.5% on last December. Season to date collection was 564 million kgMS, down 0.4% on last season.
Fonterra says December weather had some impact on pasture quality in some northern regions, however grazing crops are doing well, and cow condition remain very good.
South Island milk collection in December was 77 million kgMS, up 2.2% on last December. Season to date collection was 345 million kgMS, down 0.6% on last season.
“Favourable weather conditions across Canterbury continued, allowing for excellent pasture growth rates,” it says.
Westpac is still maintaining its $7.40/kgMS forecast milk price for Fonterra suppliers.
Fresh produce grower and exporter T&G Global has overturned last year’s dismal performance by reporting a half year net profit of $1.7 million.
One of New Zealand’s largest fertiliser plants could be forced to shut down for four months as uncertainty looms over gas supply.
Federated Farmers North Canterbury president Bex Green says two public meetings held this week should have made it loud and clear that rural families and businesses are concerned about proposed staffing changes at NZ Police.
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is consulting on a proposal to ban weedkillers containing chlorthal-dimethyl (DCPA).
August 6 marks Farm Worker Appreciation Day, a moment to recognise the dedication and hard mahi of dairy farm workers across Aotearoa - and DairyNZ is taking the opportunity to celebrate the skilled teams working on its two research farms.
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