Milk supply resilient amid worldwide volatility
As April draws to a close and we approach the final month of the 2024/25 dairy season, New Zealand continues to deliver solid year-on-year gains in milk production – even as the natural decline in volumes typical of this time of year begins to take hold.
March production figures surprised on the upside, with a 0.8 percent increase in milksolids compared to the same month last year. This result, paired with two consecutive positive Global Dairy Trade (GDT) Events, suggests a firm finish to the current season and a strong foundation for the one to come.
According to the latest NZX released data, New Zealand produced 173.99 million kilograms of milksolids in March, marking a 0.8 percent year-on-year improvement. Season-to-date milksolids are tracking 3.0 percent higher than the previous year. On a tonnage basis, March saw a 0.6 percent lift, bringing monthly production to 1.76 million tonnes.
Powering spring tea production with electrical upgrades
As spring blossoms, the tea harvest in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province is booming. On April 14, staff members from the State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company visited Xiufeng Tea Factory in Xinsanlian village, Zhangzhen town, Shangyu district, Shaoxing city, to carry out an inspection and offer their services.
They inspected the electric equipment used for tea processing, such as withering machines, rolling machines and drying machines and conducted special patrols on the factory’s power line equipment to ensure the safety of the entire procedure of tea processing including withering, rolling and drying.
Xiufeng Tea Factory has 33.3 hectares of tea gardens, focusing on varieties such as Wuniuzao and Yingshuang.
Minerals in Ukraine
Ukraine’s government has announced it has agreed an outline of a minerals deal with the US. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said she had signed a memorandum of intent, which paved the way for an “economic partnership agreement” between the two nations. She also said the final deal would establish an investment fund for reconstruction in Ukraine.
US crude oil production increased by 2pc in 2024
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the US crude oil production increased by 270,000 bbl/d in 2024 to average 13.2 mb/d. Most of the production came from the Permian region (Texas and southeastern New Mexico), which produced 48 percent of the country’s total crude oil production despite a decrease in the number of active drilling rigs in 2024 (26 fewer rigs than in 2023). In total, the region’s production increased by 370,000 bbl/d to average 6.3 mb/d. Crude prices allowed oil-directed drilling in the Permian region at US$77/bbl in 2024, with a break-even price of US$62/bbl in the Permian Midland Basin and US$64/bbl in the Permian Delaware Basin.
Turkey looks to enlarge oil and gas exploration
Turkey is boosting domestic natural gas production in its Black Sea waters and is looking to expand its international partnerships in oil and gas exploration in Bulgaria’s Black Sea, in the Caspian Sea region, and in Iraq, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Alparslan Bayraktar, said on Monday.
Turkish state energy firm TPAO and an international oil firm are negotiating a deal for oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea block off the coast of Bulgaria, Turkey’s neighbor to the northwest.
Large coal mines slash their annual carbon emissions
Several large coal mines have slashed their annual carbon emissions by more than half as a result of mandated changes to accounting methods that have prompted experts to question the reliability of key data underpinning one of Labor’s flagship climate policies.
According to data published by the Clean Energy Regulator, Glencore’s Collinsville and Clermont mines in Queensland’s Bowen Basin reported emissions reductions of 52 and 59 percent, respectively, for 2023-24.
Kazakhstan’s metal production shifts
Kazakhstan is experiencing a shift in its metals sector, with copper and steel production on the rise, while gold and silver output takes a downturn, showcasing a diversifying industry landscape.
Early 2025 brought good news for Kazakhstan’s copper industry, which ramped up production to 123,789 tonnes in the first quarter, a 2.9 percent increase from the previous year. March alone reported an 8 percent boost, underlining strong industrial demand.
Iron or steel hot-worked in Australian
The Australian market for iron or steel hot-worked helical springs is expected to see continued growth in demand, with a projected CAGR of +0.9 percent in volume and +2.9 percent in value from 2024 to 2035. By the end of 2035, the market volume is estimated to reach 42K tons, with a market value of $514M (in nominal wholesale prices). Driven by increasing demand for iron or steel hot-worked helical springs in Australia, the market is expected to continue an upward consumption trend over the next decade. Market performance is forecast to decelerate, expanding with an anticipated CAGR of +0.9 percent for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 42K tons by the end of 2035.
Minister introduces wheat harvest in Jaranwala
Federal Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar inaugurated the wheat harvesting drive under the aegis of Tarar Agricultural Farms in Jaranwala. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, he paid tribute to farmers and termed them real heroes of the nation. He said that the government is committed to transforming the agriculture sector on modern lines. Due to sincere efforts of the incumbent government, this year Pakistan has witnessed average wheat production more than the average yield of previous years, he added. He said that both federal and Punjab governments are actively working to deliver relief to wheat growers and improve their livelihoods.