The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Global Dairy Trade auction result 'good news' - Rabobank

The Country
18 Mar, 2020 12:30 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Photo / File

Photo / File

Although the global economy is reeling from a "corona hangover", it's not all bad news for the dairy industry says Emma Higgins.

Rabobank's dairy analyst told The Country's Jamie Mackay the latest Global Dairy Trade Auction result was "good news", despite it being the fourth consecutive drop.

"Things could have been much, much worse considering what's happening globally with Covid-19 at this point in time," said Higgins.

Dairy product prices fell by 3.9 per cent while the price of wholemilk powder fell by 4.2 per cent to US$2797 a tonne - its lowest point in more than a year. Skim milk powder fell by 8.1 per cent to US$2527 a tonne.

Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins. Photo / Supplied
Rabobank dairy analyst Emma Higgins. Photo / Supplied
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, Rabobank remained cautiously optimistic due to a rise in Chinese demand for dairy products.

Demand was "showing signs of spluttering back to life" said Higgins, who pointed out it had risen by around 43 per cent this GDT event.

Meanwhile China's demand for wholemilk powder jumped 60 per cent, while skim milk powder rose 40 per cent, said Higgins.

Listen below:

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Rabobank's forecast milk price had been lowered from $7.60 to $7.35, which was "still very healthy", although the future was still uncertain said Higgins.

"In light of the way that the markets have moved however, it's prudent to really note that that $7.35 is still a little bit tentative ... because the market's moving so quickly, we are at risk of our Quarterly Forecast ... being at risk for Quarter One and perhaps Quarter Two as well."

Despite this, Higgins said the exchange rate could make all the difference.

"The dollar could be the saviour here, but particularly moreso for next season and that's where we have to start looking forward to now, because most of New Zealand's supply has already been contracted and Fonterra has said as much ... this morning in their interim announcement."

Discover more

Coronavirus and drought key topics in Rabobank's Agribusiness Monthly report

09 Mar 02:31 AM
Business

Younger consumers affect NZ's largest wine export market

11 Mar 12:30 AM
Business

Dairy prices fall at fourth auction in a row on coronavirus factor

17 Mar 05:11 PM
Business

Fonterra drops dividend over coronavirus fears

17 Mar 07:43 PM

Also in today's interview: Higgins talked about how drought could affect Fonterra's milk collection.

per

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

Premium
Analysis

‘Ardern lives in exile’: Jones attacks gas ban, calls for apology in fiery hearing

19 Jun 05:00 AM
The Country

The Country: Hello Brendan, goodbye Rowena

19 Jun 01:47 AM
The Country

Huinga dairy farmer celebrated at national sustainability awards

18 Jun 10:37 PM

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Premium
‘Ardern lives in exile’: Jones attacks gas ban, calls for apology in fiery hearing

‘Ardern lives in exile’: Jones attacks gas ban, calls for apology in fiery hearing

19 Jun 05:00 AM

The Resources Minister came to the select committee sporting a Make NZ Great Again hat.

The Country: Hello Brendan, goodbye Rowena

The Country: Hello Brendan, goodbye Rowena

19 Jun 01:47 AM
Huinga dairy farmer celebrated at national sustainability awards

Huinga dairy farmer celebrated at national sustainability awards

18 Jun 10:37 PM
'Technology has come so far': Drones could be coming to farms and beaches near you

'Technology has come so far': Drones could be coming to farms and beaches near you

18 Jun 06:00 PM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP