Fonterra Revises Milk Collection Forecast
Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited today revised the forecast for its New Zealand milk collections for the current
2017/2018 season to 1,480 kilograms of milk solids (kgMS), down from its forecast in November 2017 of 1,525 kg MS.
Fonterra’s revised forecast of 1,480 kgMS is down around 4 per cent on the 2016/2017 season which itself was negatively
impacted by weather conditions.
Wet conditions experienced by farmers at the beginning of spring improved from late October and into November, but
recent dry weather is continuing to impact soil moisture and pasture quality right across the country. Dry conditions
are expected to continue, and even if the rain forecast for early in 2018 eventuates, it will not be enough to bring
production back to previously anticipated levels.
Fonterra has begun to take volumes of whole milk powder off the Global Dairy Trade platform in response to lower milk
supply, and has a programme in place to carefully manage sales both on and off GDT for the rest of the season as a
result of the current weather conditions.
ENDS