Dairy product prices slip for second straight auction

Dairy product prices eased again at the Global Dairy Trade auction, posting two straight declines for the first time since March.

Prices slid for most products except whole milk powder and buttermilk powder.

The GDT price index fell 0.4% from the previous auction two weeks ago to $US3303. Some 28,574 tonnes of product was sold, up from 21,171 tonnes at the previous auction.

Even so, whole milk powder gained, rising 2.6% to $US3111 a tonne.

"Prices for nearer-dated contracts lifted more than prices for later dated ones, suggesting some buyers need whole milk powder more urgently than others," AgriHQ dairy analyst Susan Kilsby says.

At the latest GDT auction, skim milk powder fell 4.5% to $US2090 a tonne, while anhydrous milk fat declined 3.5% to $US6596 a tonne.

Lactose retreated 3.3% to $US839 a tonne, while cheddar gave up 3.2% to $US4051 a tonne.

Rennet casein eased 2.7% to $US6133 a tonne, while butter slipped 0.1% to $US5775 a tonne.

"There has been concern that buyers would no longer be able to absorb the record prices that [butter and anhydrous milkfat] have been hitting, though it is too early to tell whether this is the start of a longer-term downward trend," Ms Kilsby says.

"Butter prices are still more than double what they were this time last year and anhydrous milkfat prices are 80% higher."

Meanwhile, "the large stocks of skim milk powder available from Europe continue to overhang the market," Ms Kilsby says.

Bucking the trend, buttermilk powder jumped 10.8% to $US2264.

The New Zealand dollar last traded at 72.92USc at noon in New York, compared with 72.95USc at 5pm in Wellington the previous day.

There were 127 winning bidders out of 165 participating at the 19-round auction. The number of qualified bidders rose to 523, up from 522 at the previous auction.

"There were more winning bidders at this event, including more from North Asia," according to Ms Kilsby. "Buyers from North Asia and from the Middle East bought more product than they did at the June 20 auction."

(BusinessDesk)