Australian milk production in growth due to good dairy season

More than halfway into the current dairy season, Australian milk production is firing on all cylinders, Rabobank said, with widespread growth in milk supply across all dairying regions due to favourable seasonal conditions and good farmgate margins.

In its recently released Q1 Global Dairy Quarterly report, the agribusiness banking specialist said Australian milk production reached 5.35 billion litres from the period July 2023 to January 2024, 2.5% year-on-year higher.

The bank said summer rainfall had far exceeded expectations across much of Australia’s east coast, providing a good platform for livestock producers.

The report’s co-author, Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey, said Australian dairy farmers were expected to enjoy a strong 2024. “With milk prices remaining elevated, expectations are that new season pricing from 1 July will be margin-supportive,” Harvey said. “And there is plenty of homegrown feed in storage, and purchased feed is affordable.”

Michael Harvey.

Rabobank forecasts the Australian milk supply to finish the 2023/24 season (ending 30 June) 2.6% higher, with growth to continue into the new season in the range of 3–4% for 2024/25.

Domestic market

Harvey said the domestic Australian dairy market performance is stuttering, but is expected to improve in 2024.

“Australian household budgets remain strained, driving discretionary spending lower, which is flowing into the food basket,” he said. “The financial health of Australian consumers is anticipated to improve as the year progresses, wages increase, tax cuts kick in and inflation normalises. And there are also potential interest rate cuts on the horizon.

“However, it is not all smooth sailing for consumers, with domestic economic growth for 2024 revised downward and unemployment revised upwards.”

Harvey said disinflation is visible across Australian dairy grocery aisles. “Still, consumer prices are 20% higher than before the inflation cycle, resulting in trading down across the main categories,” he said.

Dairy exports

Rabobank said Australian dairy exports had been under pressure in the first six months of the season.

“Volumes were 8.5% lower than last year, with significant declines for milk, whole milk powder and butter oil,” Harvey said. “As milk supply grows into the new season, additional milk will be directed to manufacturing and potentially exports.

“Export competitiveness remains, but the gap between local and offshore farmgate milk prices has narrowed as milk prices in competitors’ regions increase on the back of improving commodity markets.”

Global outlook

Rabobank said global dairy prices have improved amid ongoing supply and demand challenges.

The quarterly report said despite the positive trend, dairy farmers worldwide continue to face margin challenges.

“Against a backdrop of buyers with adequate inventories and macroeconomic concerns, global dairy demand has shown sluggishness in recent months, and milk supply growth continues to struggle” the report said.

“Key exporting regions experienced weaker year-on-year production in the second half of 2023, and we forecast lower output for the first two quarters of 2024 before a positive turn in the latter half of the year,” Harvey said.

“After two consecutive quarters of weaker supply, a firmly bullish price response would typically have materialised. However, with global buyers’ current stock levels and broader economic worries offsetting lower milk volumes, the supply and demand balance is different this time,” he said.

The bank expects the recent equilibrium between weaker supply and weaker demand will slowly shift throughout 2024, with prices moving to the upside as milk production continues to struggle but demand subtly improves.

“Slow, but steady, price increases among most dairy commodities will materialise in the coming months. A return to 2022 price levels is unlikely, but gains versus 2023’s lows are probable. Coupled with lower expected feed costs, an improved margin outlook will eventually drive milk production growth in the ‘Big 7’ (the EU, US, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay) by the second half of 2024,” the report said.

“It will likely not be a record price year by any measure, but farmers around the globe will welcome the return to profitability,” Harvey said.

“Looking ahead, we see increasing evidence that demand is on the upswing, with recessionary fears abating in some countries and a modestly improved economic outlook.”

The bank noted the Global Dairy Trade auction has seen positive price movement, signalling a potential uptick in demand. Yet, given the low level of global dairy product stocks, any supply shock or demand event presents an upside price risk for dairy product end users.

“Moreover,” the Rabobank report said, “geopolitical conflict persists in various regions worldwide, including in Ukraine and the Middle East. Further conflict escalation carries risks for global dairy demand, while shipping challenges remain in the Red Sea, increasing the time and cost of items in transit.​

“Additionally, it is an election year in many key dairy regions, with the European Parliament elections approaching in June, while the US will elect a president and many members of Congress in November. New Zealand’s new government, elected in October 2023, is implementing new policies.

“Any potential leadership shifts could also mean new approaches to policy, including free trade agreements, sustainability policies or nutrition priorities that trickle back to impact dairy prices.”​

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