The GDT-TWI Price Index rose 1.1 percent compared to the last sale two weeks ago. The average winning price rose to US$3,311 a metric tonne from US$3,290 a tonne in the last auction. Whole milk powder fell 0.6 percent to US$3,147 a tonne while skim milk powder gained 1.1 percent to US$3,419 a tonne.
Fonterra, the world’s largest exporter of dairy products, raised its forecast farmgate milk payment this month and chief executive Theo Spierings said global dairy prices “are likely to move higher in the first half of 2013" given rising feed prices and unfavourable climatic conditions in the US, Ukraine, Russia, Brazil and Argentina. Thomson Reuters/Jefferies CRB Commodity Index rose 0.2 percent to a two-week high overnight.
The total volume sold fell to 47.195 tonnes from 52,596 tonnes two weeks ago.
Anhydrous milk fat fell 0.1 percent to US$3,180 a tonne. Butter milk powder fell 0.4 percent to US$3,600 a tonne with just the Feb. 13 contract sold. Cheddar rose 4.9 percent to US$3,510 a tonne. Lactose wasn’t offered for sale.
Milk protein concentrate rose 1 percent to US$6,039 a tonne and rennet casein rose 6.9 percent to US$8,477 a tonne.
There were 145 winning bidders over 11 rounds. There were 195 participating bidders out of a total number of qualified bidders of 737.
(c) BusinessDesk 2012
