Fonterra opens new factory to meet Asia's demand for dairy

Fonterra has opened a UHT greenfield plant in Waitoa, New Zealand. The NZ$126 million plant, which has a combined daily production capacity of 250,000 L, will produce a range of products including UHT white milk and UHT cream for the foodservice sector.

The plant features state-of-the-art Tetra Pak processing and packaging equipment which will pack products into Tetra Brik Aseptic 1000, 250, 200 and 125 mL cartons and Tetra Prisma Aseptic 250 mL cartons to be exported to China.

Dennis Jönsson, president and CEO of Tetra Pak Group, attended the opening and commented, “Since my last visit to New Zealand three years ago, we have seen an explosion in the demand for dairy products from Asian countries, and the part played by New Zealand in meeting that need has been quite incredible. In 2013, nine countries in Asia were amongst the top 20 importers by total volume of liquid and powdered milk; and New Zealand’s dairy exports to China alone stood at $4.6 billion, double what they were in 2011.

“Population growth, increasing prosperity and further urbanisation across Asia will see that demand growth continue through the years ahead. And the foresight and responsiveness of New Zealand’s dairy sector, and government, will help to ensure the country is perfectly placed to respond.

“The new factory in which we are standing today is a great example of that responsiveness and foresight,” Jönsson said.