Higher milk supply in New Zealand continues

In the months up to June, New Zealand’s 2024 milk supply, with the exception of February, was below last year’s level. However, from July (the start of the new season), New Zealand’s supply has been improving. In July, 2024 milk supply was 0,31 million tonnes higher than 0,29’s 2023 million tonnes. In August 2024, milk supply was 1,42 million tonnes, while in the same month in 2023 it was 1,3 million tonnes. This is an increase of almost 10%. A month earlier, the increase was 8,4%. The five-year average for August is 1,38 million tonnes, which New Zealand is also well above this year.

In total, milk supply in 2024 up to and including August amounted to 10,33 million tonnes. For 2023, this was 10,3 million tonnes in the same period. Although most months were below last year's level, the total milk supply so far is higher than last year.

Milk price up
The winter months are over in New Zealand. In the coming months, milk supply will continue to increase seasonally, in line with the trend of recent years. Whether the increased milk supply compared to last year is related to the increasing milk prices in New Zealand is still difficult to say. However, the roughage positions on many farms are in order. What can also have a stimulating effect is the already introduced free trade agreement between the EU and New Zealand. That agreement comes into effect on May 1 this year. What we do see is that New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra partly because of this, it has made a series of major investments.