PRICES for whole milk powder lifted an average of 13.7 per cent in Fonterra's latest monthly online dairy auction to $US3437 a tonne, up from $US3022 a tonne a month ago. 

The prices paid at the globaldairytrade auction now have lifted 69.4 per cent over four months, but are still markedly down on the record levels of nearly $US5000 a tonne which whole milkpowder (WMP) fetched on spot markets in 2007, until they plunged 15 months ago.

In the first contract period, for January delivery, the per-tonne prices set for WMP were $US3352 (from New Zealand and Australian ports), up 11 per cent on last month.

For regular WMP, the winning bids were $US3345 (from NZ ports) and $US3270 (from Australian ports), while instant powder rose to $US3395 (NZ) and $US3320, and UHT powder hit $US3420 (NZ).

February-April 2010 prices lifted 12.8 per cent to $US3393/tonne, and for May to July, it rose 20.8 per cent to $US3684.

Fonterra started auctioning WMP in July last year.

Fonterra on Wednesday introduced a new product to the auctions, anhydrous milkfat (AMF) -- effectively industrial-grade butter -- which fetched prices of $US4809 (January) $US4728 (February-April) and $US4735 (May-July).