Fonterra report record exports in April

Fonterra New Zealand recorded its best-ever month for exports in April 2011, according to the company. The global dairy giant last month exported 229,000 tonnes of its dairy products. It also announced a net profit after tax of $293 million (EUR150.9m) as part of its half-year financial result.
Managing director of trade and operations Gary Romano credits this surge to continued growth in global demand for dairy products from New Zealand. “Our supply-chain team were effectively closing the door on an export container every 2.6 minutes,” Romano says. “That’s equivalent to 560 containers a day.” Strong demand from China, South East Asia and the Middle East was the driver for this increase. “In these regions, we are seeing the emergence of the middle-class with more discretionary income and a desire for more nutritious foods,” Romano says.