Goat Milk

Following a poor run of results in recent months, the Global Dairy Trade (GDT) has recorded a positive start to 2026.

The inaugural Global Dairy Trade (GDT) event of 2026, identified as Event 395, took place on January 6 and sent a positive message to the international dairy market. The GDT Price Index experienced a notable rise of 6.3% compared to the previous event, signifying a robust start to the year for global dairy prices.

Experts noted that the strong rise in the index (+6.3%) was largely driven by the significant share of milk powder—especially whole milk powder—in total traded volumes, which were considerably lower than at previous auctions.

The auction highlighted a strong buyer presence, with average winning prices hitting USD 3,533 per metric ton, indicating increased competition and willingness to pay among buyers. There were 177 registered bidders participating in the auction, out of which 114 emerged as successful buyers.

The auction was extensive, comprising 26 bidding rounds over a span of 2 hours and 57 minutes, underscoring the intensity and demand present in the market. The volume of dairy products traded ranged between 27,936 and 34,923 metric tons, with the total quantity sold amounting to 29,282 metric tons, consistent with recent events.

This strong performance in the first GDT of 2026 provides a positive outlook for dairy producers, processors, and exporting countries, who are closely monitoring international price trends following a cautious end to 2025.

Bega Group has expressed interest in acquiring Fonterra’s Oceania operations, a move that aligns with Fonterra’s strategy to focus on dairy ingredients and foodservice.

Australian food and dairy company Bega Group is pursuing an informal merger clearance from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a potential acquisition of Fonterra’s Oceania business unit. This unit includes operations in New Zealand and Australia and was put on the market last year, as part of Fonterra’s strategy to exit its consumer-facing operations and concentrate on dairy ingredients and foodservice channels.

Bega Group believes an acquisition of these assets would enhance outcomes for both the company and the wider dairy industry in Australia. However, Bega Group will be competing with other potential buyers, including French dairy giant Lactalis, which has already submitted a proposal to acquire Fonterra’s assets.

Other speculated bidders for Fonterra’s assets include Canada’s Saputo, Japan’s Meiji Holding Co., and the US investment company Warburg Pincus, although these have not been confirmed. Meanwhile, Bega Group intends to work closely with Fonterra Group on this potential acquisition.

Bega Group, headquartered in Bega, New South Wales, is known for its popular brands such as Vegemite and Bega Peanut Butter. The company reported a revenue increase of 3% to A$1.8 billion and a 44% rise in normalized EBITDA to A$110.3 million for the first half, with net profit after tax growing to A$35.9 million from A$13.3 million a year earlier.