Since 2009, Fonterra has shipped more than 100,000 tonnes of nutritional powder products from Victoria manufacturing sites, achieving 37% growth in this export category over that time.

Fonterra Ingredients Australia Managing Director Simon Bromell said the results had solidified the company’s position as the dairy exporter of choice to consumers in Asia.

“This is exceptional growth and we’re pleased with these results,” Bromell said.

“It’s fantastic to see the strength of Fonterra’s global network creating value from Australian milk and contributing to success for our Australian farmers.”

Bromell said the volume increase reflects growing demand for high quality dairy nutrition in export markets.

“We are experiencing very strong demand for the nutritional benefits that our milk powders deliver to consumers in the Middle East, South East Asia and China.

“The nutritional powder category is very important to our business and during 2010/11 played a key role in enabling us to deliver our second highest closing price ever at the season’s close.

“The growth we have achieved is a direct credit to our suppliers who work extremely hard to deliver the high quality milk we need to make these products.”

Bromell said the strength of Fonterra’s sales network and international customer partnerships was a key contributor to the export growth the Australian operation has achieved over recent years.

“Fonterra is a leading global dairy nutrition business and we expect the strong demand for our nutritional powders to continue through the 2011/12 season.

“We look forward to continuing to build on the success achieved to date in this important product category.”