Latest Dairy Market Blog

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Weather events continue to moderate US and EU milk output into Summer

Milk supplies for April 18 lifted a little for the EU 28, at +2.1%. In the US, the growth was quite modest for April (+0.7%) and in May (+0.9%).  Together with a 4% increase for April/May 2018 in New Zealand, this has led AHDB to predict a slight recovery from the trend to March.
However, I would venture to guess that dry and hot weather in North Western Europe, and wet weather in other parts of Europe in May and June will probably moderate growth in the EU 28 again for those months.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Source: AHDB Dairy[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Commodity prices strengthened through June – easing somewhat now

EU and international commodity prices have been strengthening since the beginning of the year, in response to strong demand and moderate production growth, especially in the EU 28.

EU average dairy commodity prices as reported to the EU Milk Market Observatory (EU MMO) at 24^th June (most recent available as we write) suggested a gross return before processing costs are deducted of 37.93c/l for a reasonably representative Irish product mix.  This was despite a slight easing that week of butter, SMP and WMP prices. After deduction of a nominal 5c/l processing cost, this would be equivalent to a price level of 32.93c/l + VAT (34.70c/l incl VAT).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Based on EU MMO data[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Ornua PPI for June also showed improved butter and SMP returns, rising from 105.4 points for May to 109 points for June.  This is equivalent to a price level – as stated by Ornua – of 31.1c/l + VAT (32.78c/l incl VAT).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Source: Ornua[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]In recent days, however, some commodity prices have eased a little, influenced by 3 consecutive negative GDT auctions.
Spot prices have also eased, as have futures markets for the main commodities (butter and SMP).

For all that, the combined GDT average price for SMP and butter based on 3^rd July results would yield a gross return of 34.64c/l and a price equivalent at Irish constituents of 29.64 c/l + VAT (31.24c/l incl VAT).  [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Source: GDT[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Most recent European cash market (spot) quotes for butter and SMP (4^th July 2018), though slightly easier,  would nonetheless yield a gross return of 39.57c/l and a milk price after deduction of 5c/l nominal processing costs of 34.57c/l + VAT (36.47c/l incl VAT).

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Source: FCStone International[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Price increases expected, needed and justified for June milk

All these indicators would suggest that a price increase is well and truly justified for June milk – as well as being badly needed by farmers who are now again struggling with fodder shortages, this time due to drought!  What a challenging year 2018 will have proven for dairy farmers!  A market based price increase on June volumes will go a long way to support farmers’ ailing cash flow as grazing grass, never mind fodder stocks, get scarce, and the cost of feed rises dramatically.

 

CL/IFA/12^th July 2018                                      [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dairy markets: we have definitely turned the corner

With global milk output growing at much slower rates (just over 1% for March, the level analysts believe is required to rebalance markets), intervention SMP stock shifting more readily, and international commodity price indices on the up, it looks like we may have seen the last of the (base) milk price cuts for 2018.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Source: USDEC

 

EU dairy commodity prices as reported by the EU MMO have continued to firm.  Butter prices have gone up by over €1000/t since January, while SMP has lifted €120/t in the last month (see graph based on EU MMO reports below).

 

Based on EU MMO data[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]SMP stocks moving at last

SMP prices seem set to recover – though slowly – as intervention stocks are starting to move in earnest at long last.

In the most recent tender, which closed 15^th May and was adjudicated yesterday, the EU Commission received bids for 124,360t, with prices offered ranging from €500/t to €1277/t.  The minimum price selected by the EU Commission for adjudication was €1155 – €100 above the April tender – which resulted in 41,598t of SMP being sold between the €1155 and the top price bid.  In fact, the bids exceeded the amount of product available by around 5,000t (there was insufficient stock of the right age in certain countries relative to the bids within the eligible price range).

This means that, since December 2016, over 76,000t of SMP has been sold out of intervention – of which around 65,000t in the last 2 tenders alone.

The EU Commission is expected to increase the quantities available for the June 19^th tender to around 149,000t.  It will do so by bringing forward the eligibility date for the stock from product purchased before 1^st May 2016 to before 1^st June 2016.

Buyers are clearly engaging more with the scheme, and willing to pay more as the fresh market picks up.  This is very positive and holds the prospect that a substantial volume of SMP in intervention could be disposed of before year end.

In recent weeks, traders had been pointing out that the EU intervention stock had become largely irrelevant to the fresh market – and this was showing as SMP prices started firming slowly.

There’s a long way to go, though.  With EU average prices (13th May) averaging at €1440 and latest spot quotes (16^th May) at €1490, only this week’s GDT price at US$ 2047 (€1734) exceeds the intervention reference price.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Returns inching up

The returns for the Irish product mix, based on EU MMO reported average EU prices, have lifted half a cent per litre in the last week alone.  This is largely driven by increases in butter, SMP and whey powder prices.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Based on EU MMO Data[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]An analysis of the most recent EU average returns, EU average spots from Germany, the Netherlands and France and the latest GDT auction earlier this week, show that these commodity prices would justify stronger milk prices than what is currently being paid by most co-ops (even allowing for the much-appreciated support top ups paid by most).[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The April Ornua PPI, unchanged from March at 100.4 points (equivalent to 29.6c/l incl VAT), shows that returns available to Irish co-ops have at least bottomed out.  Many contracts will have been signed forward some weeks/months ago at prices lower than the current spots or market averages.

We would reasonably expect to see some PPI improvements in the months ahead, reflecting fresh contracts being signed at higher prices.

The PPI provided its hedging effect last autumn/winter, when it returned more than average EU prices, and this lag effect is operating the other way – at least for the moment.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

 

Source: Ornua[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]CL/IFA 18th May 2018[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Dairy Market Blog – 3^rd May 2018

Are SMP markets on the mend at last?

SMP prices have languished well below €2000/t since June 2017, after which they staged a free-fall.  They have been below €1500 since November.  In the last few weeks, average EU SMP prices as reported by the EU MMO have first stabilised just over €1300/t, and in the last couple of weeks have even staged a small recovery to €1380 (29^th April 2018).  Could it be that we’ve seen the worst of the SMP prices?

While we all hope so, there are a number of indicators which suggest that we might just be right to be optimistic.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Based on EU MMO data[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]While we all hope so, there are a number of indicators which suggest that we might just be right to be optimistic.

Spot markets too have been rallying of late, now reaching €1420/t on average for the Dutch, German and French quotes on 2^nd May 2018.  This is around €200/t above the early April quote for SMP.

Source:FCStone

What is also very interesting to observe is the buyers’ attitude to the SMP intervention stock.  The last tender, on 17^th April last, saw for the first time a significant amount of product sold (24,066 t, compared to just around 10,000t sold over the 17 preceding months).  Even more meaningful was the price at which the product sold: poor at €1051, but stable/up for the first time in those 17 months.  Furthermore, the range of prices buyers were prepared to bid at reached above the intervention reference price of €1700 for the first time since last September.  It would seem that buyers are now prepared to pay more for SMP intervention stock.  Some operators have suggested that sellers are now finding it a little easier to dismiss the relevance of SMP stock because it is aging rapidly, and is no longer real competition for the fresh stuff.  Facts appear to prove them right![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Looking at global market trends for SMP, GDT auctions over the last couple of months have shown stronger prices than even European prices. At US$1,999/t at the auction of 1^st May, it would be equivalent in Euros to €1670/t.

The GDT butter and SMP price combination reached on 1^st May would be equivalent to a gross Irish milk price return (before processing costs are deducted) of 35.65c/l.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Source: GDT[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Positive EU price trend extends beyond SMP

Other EU dairy prices have also improved somewhat in April.
Butter prices are nearing €5200/t, a price over twice the butter price of two years ago, WMP has inched up to €2700/t during the month, while whey powder has lifted slightly to finish the month $700/710/t.  All commodity cheese prices have held up well during the month, too.

Returns in terms of cents per litre do reflect the improved average returns – however, where operators have sold on forward contracts signed some weeks back, those would have been at somewhat lower prices.  Hence the Ornua PPI may well end up trailing slightly the EU average returns over the coming weeks, just as it was slightly ahead of them when prices started to ease in the last quarter of 2017.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Based on EU MMO data[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]EU returns at end April equivalent to 30c/l + VAT

Taking account of recent price improvements, the average returns before processing costs for a representative Irish product mix based on the most recent data for 29^th April quoted by the EU MMO now exceeds very slightly 35c/l – or, excluding a nominal 5c/l processing cost, would be equivalent to 30.22c/l + VAT.

While co-ops may have contracts which were signed for lower returns than those, it would appear at least that those will progressively be replaced by higher priced contracts.

This should give co-ops the confidence to continue supporting milk prices, which farmers still suffering from the consequences of the disastrous spring need badly.

Based on EU MMO data

CL/IFA/3^rd May 2018

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]