Dairy, aluminium lead commodity price rise

GAINING: Butter is up 3 per cent in January's commodity price index. Photo / Peter Meecham

New Zealand commodity prices rose for the first time in eight months in January, led by aluminium and dairy products.

But the high kiwi dollar wiped out the benefits in local currency terms.

The ANZ Commodity Price Index rose 1.2 per cent in January, having fallen 9.8 per cent in the previous seven months.

The ANZ NZD Commodity Price Index fell 2.9 per cent to a 14-month low, reflecting the strengthening kiwi dollar.

Nine of the 17 commodity types rose in the latest month, three fell and five were unchanged.

Aluminium gained 6 per cent last month, ending an eight-month slide.

Cheese rose 5 per cent, and skim milk powder and butter gained 3 per cent. Aggregate dairy prices are up 2 per cent.

Lamb prices rose 2 per cent after three months of declines. Beef, logs, skins and whole milk powder all rose about 1 per cent.

The price of wool fell 7 per cent.

The wool price has declined in five of the past six months, ANZ said, and is 19 per cent below its peak of last July.