FDBusiness.com

According to Greenfields Ingredients, manufacturers of ready meals, bakery products and confectionery face higher prices for butter after a surprise rally on global commodity markets.

The effects of low milk prices and a cold, wet spring across Europe have combined to push butter prices upwards, the company notes, leaving food companies exposed to the risk of rising raw material costs, which could hit their profits further if they don’t take action now and lock into a fixed price deal.

Since 15 April 2016, Greenfields says, the price of butter futures to October 2017 on the European Energy Exchange (EEX) jumped by €349 per tonne to an average of €3,012 – an increase of 13% over the period, illustrating the highly volatile nature of this important commodity.

“Food manufacturers have become accustomed to the idea that there is too much milk and that prices will continue to fall,” said Ian Thomas, Managing Director of dairy trader Greenfields Ingredients, the UK division of Greenfields Ireland. “Until recently, that’s been the case. However, milk is a natural product and its production is particularly subject to climatic conditions and, when coupled with the current commercial pressures, prices can rise sharply. As such it’s always wise to prepare for bumps in the road when prices might shoot up, just as they have in the past month or so.”

“Lower-than-usual spring temperatures and significant rainfall have prevented farmers from getting their dairy herds out on to fresh pasture. In addition, due to the poor returns they are receiving for their milk, they have chosen not push production. The latest jump in butter prices is a direct consequence of these factors and prices have risen much earlier than expected.”

How long this price surge will last is unknown, Greenfields says. However, Greenfields notes that food companies have the option of hedging against further volatility by using one of the fixed-term price models it offers.

“Prices have risen already but it’s not too late to take action,” said Thomas. “Greenfields Ireland has developed a range of pricing models that offer a straightforward way for food manufacturers to bring some certainty to dairy commodity prices over an extended period.”