MILK cheques will be healthier next month, but only for the suppliers of a few dairy processors.
This comes after the online auction Global DairyTrade bounced back last week, posting a 1.5 per cent rise, recouping losses from the two previous auctions.
- TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
- Are you happy with the current dairy prices?
- READ MORE: Fonterra and Burra step up
- Have Your Say in the form below
Fonterra and Burra Foods were the most recent processors to announce price increases on Monday, following Warrnambool Cheese and Butter late last week and Bega Cheese and Tatura Milk Industries earlier in the month.
The board of dairy giant Murray Goulburn is set to meet next week to review figures and chairman Philip Tracy said yesterday "markets certainly appear to be holding-up well". Fonterra and WCB increased farm-gate prices by 8c/kg butterfat and 20c/kg protein.
The Allansford processor said this lifted its weighted average price to $5.20kg/MS, while Fonterra confirmed it was about $5.10kg/MS for its Victorian and Tasmania suppliers.
"It's been quite steady, certainly pricing has been a little volatile, (but) prices seems to be firming as of late," WCB chief executive David Lord said.
Fonterra milk supply general manager Heather Stacy said the processor was experiencing strong demand from bulk ingredient and export customers, particularly for high-value products categories such as nutritional powders.
"The outlook for the remainder of this season is good and we see further upside still to come, which bodes well for a strong finish to the season," she said.
Burra Foods increased its milk price by 10c/kg butterfat and 25c/kg protein and it said this equated to an average annual price "over $5.05kg/MS".
Bega Cheese and TMI Victorian milk price is now about $5.23kg/MS for the year.
Bega Cheese executive chairman Barry Irvin said the group's milk intake was "in excess of 700 million litres," up between 50-70 million litres on last season.
Milk supply and domestic sales manager for Gippsland based Longwarry Food Park Shane Murphy said the current average weighted price was about $5.05kg/MS.
