by Nick Clark, Manager General Policy Commodity prices March upwards The monthly ANZ World Commodity Price Index lifted 6.1% in March to reach a record high. The strength in the overall index was driven primarily by a sharp lift in dairy prices, with the dairy sub-index up 12.7% to its highest level in seven years. […]
Trade
Economic Week March 19
by Nick Clark, Federated Farmers Manager General Policy Economy contracts – are we back in recession? Economic activity measured by Gross Domestic Product fell 1.0% in the December 2020 quarter, reflecting an easing of activity following September quarter’s post-lockdown catch-up, slower population growth, and the continued absence of international visitors. GDP growth was well below […]
First shipment of record Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit crop sets sail for Japan and Korea
The first shipment of what is expected to be a record season of New Zealand-grown Zespri Kiwifruit is now en route to Tokyo and Busan. The fruit is aboard the MV Kakariki, the second of three new specialised reefer vessels built by Fresh Carriers to ship New Zealand-grown kiwifruit to Zespri’s Asian markets, with the […]
NZ Dairy is ready for a decade of change, opportunities
In his address as Chairperson to the Federated Farmers Dairy Council in Wellington on Tuesday, Wayne Langford canvassed where he thinks the sector is heading and what challenges are coming over the horizon… We are entering a new era for New Zealand dairy, in a decade where the world will never see change as fast […]
Economic Week – February 19
by Nick Clark, Federated Farmers Manager General Policy Seven in a row Continued strong demand from China saw dairy prices increase again in this week’s Global Dairy Trade auction. The GDT Price Index was up 3.0% compared to the previous auction a fortnight ago. All six commodities on offer increased in price, led by whole […]
Red meat exports reach historic highs
Despite the challenges and restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the New Zealand red meat sector exported $9.2 billion worth of products during 2020, an increase of one per cent on the previous year. Overall exports during the year reached historically high levels – and were seven per cent above 2018 exports ($8.6 billion) and 21 […]
Positive start to export onion season
The 2021 New Zealand export onion season is off to an early and positive start. ‘Amongst all the turmoil created by Covid and the weather, it’s great to be able to report that exports of New Zealand onions to Indonesia are underway, two months earlier than last year,’ says Onions New Zealand Chief Executive, James […]
Dairy notches record milksolid production in tough year
It’s been another record year for New Zealand’s dairy sector, with total milksolids production at a record high. The DairyNZ and Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) statistics show that in the 2019-20 season, New Zealand dairy companies processed 21.1 billion litres of milk containing 1.90 billion kilograms of milksolids (kg MS). This is a 0.6 percent […]
Primary industry exports close to breaking $50b mark
Economic prospects for the primary sector are bright despite the significant challenges from COVID-19, according to the latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report. The report, released on Tuesday afternoon, forecasts food and fibre export revenue of more than $47.5 billion for the year ending June 2021, and a record $49.2 billion the […]
Meat, dairy essential to global nutrition
Meat and dairy will continue to play a major role in the world’s food production systems if we’re to deliver adequate nutrition to a growing world population. That was the core message Dr Nick Smith of the Massey University-based Riddet Institute’s Sustainable Nutrition Initiative (SNI) delivered to the 400 farmers, horticulturalists, government and sector representatives […]