MD_DA124 Butter/Butteroil - Oceania Report 15 - Released on April 11, 2019 Oceania butter prices firmed. Current butter pricing compared with one year ago, is $25.00 lower at each end of the price range. Extremely strong early year export demand has contributed to butter price strength. Buyers are quite aware than seasonal production will continue to move lower for several months. Many buyers are already contracted. However, spot market availability of butter is expected to keep prices near current levels in the coming weeks as last-minute buyers seek out supplies. Oceania, 82% Butterfat, Free on Board - Port Butter Price Range - $/MT: 5,450 - 5,525 Information for the period April 1 - 12, 2019, issued biweekly Secondary Sourced Information: Butter exports from New Zealand January-February 2019, 103,000 MT, were up 46.5 percent from January-February 2018, according to CLAL. The table below shows the top export destinations and country percent change comparing January-February 2019 with January- February 2018. NEW ZEALAND BUTTER EXPORTS JAN-FEB 2019 % CHANGE DESTINATION 2019/2018 MT Iran +57.0 9,797 China -31.6 8,567 Philippines +138.0 8,239 Australia -8.7 6,220 Butter imports by China January-February 2019, 19,000 MT, decreased 12.5 percent from January-February 2018, according to CLAL. New Zealand overwhelmingly dominates the top ten sources, with EU countries, Australia, and Argentina providing the balance. The United States is not among the top ten sources. At GDT event 233 on April 2, the butter all contracts price, $5,374, increased 5.8 percent. The May contract price, $5,475, increased 7.4 percent. One year ago, the butter all contracts price was $5,494 and the May contract was $5,530. Published by: Dairy Market News - Madison, WI Eric Graf, 608.422.8590 Email: Eric.Graf@usda.gov Additional Dairy Market News Information: Dairy Market News (DMN) by Phone: (608)422-8602 DMN Website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy DMN MARS (MyMarketNews): https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/