New Zealand: Spring delivers renewed optimism for sheepmeat

The article provides an overview of the New Zealand and Australian agricultural markets, focusing on the export values and volumes of processed sheepmeat and milk, as well as the milk production trends and market fluctuations in fertriliser prices. It highlights a decrease of 16% in processed sheepmeat exports year-on-year, with a slight increase in average export values for both lamb and mutton. The upcoming Chinese New Year is mentioned as a significant period for mutton consumption. Dairy New Zealand's milk production has seen a strong growth of 4.1% year-on-year, leading the start of the 2024/25 production season with promising results. In contrast, Australian milk production experienced a slight increase of 1.4% year-on-year. The article also touches on the market dynamics and demand for beef, lamb, and dairy products in various regions, including the United Kingdom, Europe, and Japan. Additionally, it discusses the impact of weather conditions and production challenges on lamb numbers for the 2024/25 export season. Furthermore, it addresses the current situation and future expectations of the global fertiliser market, particularly urea, phosphate, and potash prices, noting the influence of the US dollar strength and the potential effects of Indian import demand.