Commodity prices fall 1% in June as whole milk powder, beef drop

Beef prices were down 2.8 per cent. Photo / File

New Zealand commodity prices fell in June, weighed by whole milk powder and beef prices but while the shine has come off New Zealand's goods terms of trade recently, they remain elevated by historical standards, said ANZ Bank New Zealand.

The ANZ commodity price index fell 1 per cent in June and is up 2.2 per cent from a year earlier. In New Zealand dollar terms, the index fell 1.1 per cent in June but was up 7.4 per cent on the year.

According to ANZ, the New Zealand dollar had a "topsy-turvy" month but ended up appreciating against all major trading partners except the US dollar.

Dairy prices slipped 1 per cent on the month in June, with whole milk powder prices down 1.1 per cent on the month. Skim milk powder was the only dairy component to post an increase, up 2.4 per cent on the month.

According to ANZ, however, overall, dairy prices continue to hold at high levels, supported by solid global demand, particularly from China, and some recent slowing in global production growth.

Meat and fibre prices fell 0.8 per cent as beef prices were down 2.8 per cent on solid global and New Zealand supply. Culling due to Mycoplasma bovis is providing a further boost to supply. Lamb prices, however, lifted 1.1 per cent, reflecting ongoing solid demand out of China and Europe. Wool prices continued to recover from low levels, up 0.6 percent on the month.

Horticultural product prices fell 3.5 per cent but were mixed as a 4.2 per cent month on month lift in apples partially offset a 7 per cent fall in kiwifruit prices from June, ANZ said.

Aluminium prices fell 2.7 per cent on the month but remains up 19.3 per cent on the year. They are expected to bounce around at a high level on the back of US sanctions on Russia, ongoing trade tensions and China's clampdown on excess production and environmental restrictions.

According to ANZ, "rising import prices (reflecting higher oil prices and broadening global inflation pressures) are expected to limit any significant upside to the terms of trade from here, but recent export price performance should keep it travelling at a high level."