Fonterra reports record dairy exports
New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra has reported a record end of season quarter for exports, up 36% on the same period last year.
In May, June and July the group exported 620,000t of dairy products to more than 100 markets around the world.
“The record milk production in the 2011/12 season has meant Fonterra has exported more product at the end of season than ever before,” said Fonterra NZ milk products managing director Gary Romano.
“If we were to lay the containers we have shipped this year end-to-end they would stretch more than 1,000km.”
The group would normally ship 450,000t during this period, but a larger quantity of product produced resulted in more creative planning across the supply chain to manage the additional volumes.
And the demand for dairy products ahead of the month of Ramadan had been more than expected, resulting in the company chartering its own boat to take 7,500t to ports in Dubai and Saudi, said Mr Romano.
“Our farmers did a great job making the most out of the favourable weather conditions during the season, and it has been our responsibility to make sure we get the most out of every drop of milk we collected and bring the best returns back to our farmer shareholders.”
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