Christmas and the ensuing holiday season may seem like a long time ago, as we race into February, but for many overseas visitors, the holiday is just beginning.

Export commodity prices have started 2018 on a firm footing thanks in part to the buoyant global trade backdrop. 

Trade Minister David Parker this month opened the APEC Business Advisory Council meeting in Auckland with a speech about the new Government’s approach to trade. Here are excerpts. 

Fonterra says its partnership with Beingmate has enabled the Anmum range to expand from 60 to 184 cities. 

European dairy co-op Arla Foods will spend $850 million this year to expand its business.

Westpac senior analyst Anne Boniface says fears of tighter international supplies, particularly for whole milk powder, helped dairy prices squeeze higher in the first few Global Dairy Trade auctions of 2018. 

Chinese dairy expert Jane Li says Fonterra’s Anmum is struggling to gain a foothold in the country’s lucrative infant formula market.

Rising economies in most countries New Zealand exports to is a key reason for the record lamb and mutton receipts for the December quarter, says Beef + Lamb NZ. 

Fonterra says it is committed to being transparent with farmer shareholders on its Beingmate investment.

Fonterra is heading for a bigger financial disaster over its shaky investment in Chinese company Beingmate, says Chinese dairy expert Jane Li.