The entire world is facing disruptions, cost increases, faltering production, and soaring milk prices.
Bad weather in New Zealand, the United States and Australia had already combined with rocketing gas prices and pandemic-related supply chain disruptions to put pressure on milk producers in the five biggest exporters before the war.
Combined milk production in New Zealand, which accounts for 35 per cent of global exports, the European Union, Australia, the U.S. and Argentina fell 1.7 per cent in January compared with the previous year, down according to commodity broker StoneX.
New Zealand and Australia posting declines of more than 6 per cent.
Anhydrous milk fat, a core dairy product, hit a record $7,111 a tonne on March 15, according to Global Dairy Trade index, which monitors New Zealand dairy prices.
Whole milk powder, the most actively traded product, hit an eight-year high this month.
New Zealand company Fonterra, the world’s biggest dairy exporter, said last week it was paying farmers 30 per cent more for milk than it did a year ago and predicted the price would rise further.
It cited rising costs for fertilizer and feed and disruptions in supply chains related to ongoing labour shortages because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine.
