Domestic Market Updates
Track Australian dairy market updates for some of the latest developments in production, trade and retail sales.
Cull Cow Prices Bounce Back
Cull cow values have bounced back in January, according to the National Livestock Reporting Service. Saleyard prices for dairy cows averaged 232c per kg liveweight in the December quarter, down 5.5% from the prior three-month period. For the first three weeks of 2025,...
Above Average Wheat Crop For 2024/25
Australia’s wheat production is estimated at 32 mt for 2024/25 based on receivals data. This is the third largest crop on record, 20% above the 10-year average and despite tough seasonal conditions across southern Australia. Wheat quality is reportedly lower than...
Small Increases In Water Entitlements
The Resource Manager for northern Victoria updated the 2024/25 seasonal determinations. The Campaspe system seasonal determination increases from 47% of low-reliability water shares (LRWS) to 48% LRWS, in addition to 100% of high-reliability water shares (HRWS). The...
Confidence Eases In December
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment survey dipped in January to 92.1, down 0.7% from the month prior. Consumers’ assessment of their finances compared with a year ago reversed December’s gains. Other forward looking measures were more stable; with...
Food Inflation Rises, Dairy Prices Down
Australia’s monthly consumer price index (CPI) indicator rose 2.3% in the 12 months to November 2024, compared to 2.1% in the prior month. The food and non-alcoholic beverages category was a top contributor alongside higher prices for alcohol, tobacco as well as...
Australia November Milk Marginally Lower
Milk production was marginally lower in November, down 0.2% YOY bringing season-to-date output 1.3% ahead of the prior year comparable. In Victoria, output edged up 0.2% YOY in November, with growth in Gippsland (+3.2% YOY) and Northern Vic (+2.5%) offset by a 5% YOY...
Wetter, Warmer Days For Australia
The Bureau of Meteorology’s (BoM) latest long-range forecast is for warmer days and nights across most of southern and eastern Australia from January to March. BoM is forecasting wetter than average conditions for large parts of eastern, western and northern...
Saputo Steps Up Milk Price
Saputo is raising its minimum milk price by $0.15kgMS for the 2024/25 from 1 January 2025, taking the weighted average milk price to a range of $8.15kgMS—$8.30kgMS in southern milk regions. The payment will apply to qualifying milk supplied under an exclusive Saputo...
Consumer Confidence Falters
Consumer confidence faltered in December, according to the Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index, which dropped 2% to 92.8. The drop reflect renewed pessimism about the economic outlook, with the sub-index for the next 12 months plunging 9.6% to 91.2,...
Australian Herd Shrinks 1.2% In 2023/24
The number of Australian dairy farms fell to 3,889 in 2023/24 down from 4,163 the prior year. The number of cows fell 1.2% to 1.33m, giving an average herd size of 342 according to Dairy Australia’s (DA) In Focus report for 2023/24. Cheese continues to be the major...