Fonterra to triple production at Darfield site

Dairy giant Fonterra will be spending NZ$250 million (EUR156.4 million) to triple the milk production at its Darfield site with a new dryer vying to be the largest in New Zealand. The co-operative plans is to have the second dryer built by 2015 as the $200 million site is currently under construction. At 30 tonnes of powder an hour, the spray drying unit would increase milk processing three-fold to 7.5 million litres a day and the workforce would double to more than 100. The first stage is set to be completed next year.

The 650-hectare site is being expanded to produce more whole milk powder because the area leads dairy growth nationally. Milk production is increasing by five per cent to six per cent a year in the province compared with two per cent to three per cent nationally. Fonterra’s New Zealand operations director Brent Taylor says the additional stage is a single tower and will use 10 per cent of the site area.

At this stage the second dryer is expected to process whole milk powder for delivery mostly to the growth market of Asia, principally China and Southeast Asia.