World dairy prices slump 5pc + graphic

A milk tanker leaves the Te Rapa Fonterra Dairy Factory. Photo / Christine Cornege

Dairy product prices fell to the lowest trade-weighted price in nine months, led by anhydrous milk fat and rennet casein, in a third decline on Fonterra 's GlobalDairyTrade auction site.

The GDT price index dropped 5.2 per cent to US$4,563 per tonne from the last sale two weeks ago, the lowest price since June last year. Some 39,008 tonnes were sold at today's auction, taking the total for March to 80,094 tonnes, double the 37,916 tonnes sold in March last year.

"The market seems to be struggling to digest the recent lift in near-term volumes offered (most of which is whole milk powder)," Con Williams, ANZ Bank New Zealand rural economist, said in a note. "The recent broadening in dry weather conditions (despite recent rain) suggests there won't be a long tail to the New Zealand season despite the current record milk price for 2013/14 and ability to feed supplement."

See more details of the auction here.

Rennet casein prices fell 11 per cent to US$10,533 a tonne and anhydrous milk fat dropped by the same amount to US$4,578 a tonne. Whole milk powder, the biggest product sold by volume, fell 5.8 per cent to US$4,439, its biggest decline since June last year.

The auction comes ahead of government figures which are expected to show New Zealand's annual current account deficit narrowed to $7.41 billion in the three months ended December 31 from $8.77 billion in the September quarter. The country's terms of trade are at a 40-year high and have helped underpin the local export sector, with massive Chinese demand for dairy products.

Skim milk powder prices fell 1.7 per cent to US$4,584 a tonne, the first time it's been more expensive than whole milk powder. Butter prices fell 4.4 per cent to US$4,534 a tonne.

Butter milk powder prices were the biggest gainer, up 4.6 per cent to US$5,253 from the last auction, followed by a 3.7 per cent gain in milk protein concentrate to US$8,837 a tonne. Lactose wasn't offered at the event.

There were 142 winning bidders of 187 participating bidders at the auction over 10 rounds. The number of qualified bidders fell to 747 from 796 at the last auction.