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Fonterra makes progress on strategic priorities in Q1

Operational Update4 December 2024FSFConsumer Staples

5 December 2024

Fonterra makes progress on strategic priorities in Q1


Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today provided its FY25 Q1 business update, which shows the Co-op

has made significant progress on its shift in strategic direction while maintaining its focus on performance.

“During the first quarter of the year we released our revised strategy, which sees us focusing on our high

performing Ingredients and Foodservice businesses to grow returns for farmer shareholders and unit

holders,” says Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell.

“We’ve announced investments to support this direction, including around $75 million to increase

production capacity for high value protein ingredients at our Studholme manufacturing site, with site works

now underway.

“To support ongoing growth in our thriving Foodservice business, we announced that we’re investing

around $150 million in a new UHT cream plant at our Edendale site, with the project to create 70 new

roles in Southland.

“We also launched a new Foodservice product, Anchor Easy Bakery UHT Cream, targeting China’s mid-

tier market.

“Alongside this, we’re investing in strengthening our supply chain network, with around $150 million

allocated to build a new cool store with capacity to store 26,000 tonnes of cheese at our Whareroa site.

“These strategic investments underpin our future growth, and I’m pleased our balance sheet strength is

enabling us to invest in our business,” says Mr Hurrell.

Fonterra has also progressed work to divest its global Consumer business, as well as integrated

businesses Fonterra Oceania and Sri Lanka.

“Last month, we confirmed we are pursuing a divestment for these businesses. This work is now

underway and we will share more information as it progresses.

“Our priority is maintaining momentum in our financial performance while the divestment process is

underway,” says Mr Hurrell.

Business performance

Fonterra's Q1 profit after tax was $263 million, equivalent to earnings per share of 16 cents.

“This is a strong start to the year, especially when taking into consideration the higher cost of milk and

narrower price relativities when compared to this time last year.

“While these factors have impacted our gross margins, this has been partially offset by improved product

mix, with a greater allocation of milk to higher value products in our Foodservice and Consumer channels.

“We ended FY24 with well managed inventory levels, meaning we started this year with lower levels than

the year prior.

Fonterra Co-operative Group
Page 2


“As a result, we have lower sales volumes in our Ingredients channel when compared to this time last

year. This channel was also impacted by the continued narrowing of price relativities in New Zealand. This

has been partially offset by the realignment of the Australian milk price with global commodity prices.


“While Foodservice and Consumer gross margins have been impacted by the higher cost of milk relative

to Q1 last year, it is pleasing to see margins have improved in our global markets since the end of last

financial year.

“Operating expenses for the first quarter of FY25 were in line with expectations as we continue to invest in

core IT and digital infrastructure and transformation initiatives,” says Mr Hurrell.

ENDS


For further information contact:


James Kaufman

Fonterra Communications

Phone: +64 21 507 072


About Fonterra


Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by thousands of farming families across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Through the spirit of co-operation and a can-do attitude, Fonterra’s farmers and employees share the goodness of

our milk through innovative consumer, foodservice and ingredients brands. Sustainability is at the heart of everything

we do, and we’re committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about

supporting our communities by Doing Good Together.



Non-GAAP financial information

Fonterra uses several non-GAAP measures when discussing financial performance. Non-GAAP measures are not

defined or specified by NZ IFRS.


Management believes that these measures provide useful information as they provide valuable insight on the

underlying performance of the business. They may be used internally to evaluate the underlying performance of

business units and to analyse trends. These measures are not uniformly defined or utilised by all companies.

Accordingly, these measures may not be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies. Non-

GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation nor considered as a substitute for measures reported in

accordance with NZ IFRS.


Non-GAAP measures are not subject to audit unless they are included in Fonterra’s audited annual financial

statements.

---

Fonterra Co-operative Group
2025 Quarter One Business Update

Results at a glance
Earnings per share

16 cents

 from 20c

Profit after tax

$263m

 from 346m

Continuing operations’

operating profit (EBIT)

$396m

 from 575m

Farmgate Milk Price forecast

$9.50 – $10.50

per kgMS

Full year FY25 forecast

40 – 60 cents

per share

2

2025 Quarter One Business Update
•Progressing strategy to focus on Ingredients and Foodservice:

−site work underway at Studholme to increase production capacity in high value protein ingredients

−UHT cream plant at Edendale and Whareroa cool store works in advanced planning

•Pursuing both trade sale and IPO as options for divestment of global Consumer business, as well as

integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka

•Good progress on sustainability targets, no longer using coal as a fuel source in the North Island

•Innovation continues to support growth in the Co-op’s higher value portfolios, with the launch of Easy

Bakery UHT Cream expanding our Foodservice UHT cream portfolio into the mid-tier Greater China market

•Q1 profit after tax of $263 million, equates to earnings per share of 16 cents, down on prior year due to:

−lower sales volumes, reflecting the strong finish to FY24 and therefore lower FY25 opening inventory

−gross margins impacted by higher cost of milk

•Season to date milk collections up on last year and revised full year forecast to 1,498m kgMS, up 1.8% on

prior year

•Forecast Farmgate Milk Price increased to $9.50 –$10.50 per kgMS, midpoint of $10.00 supported by

strong demand from key importing regions and a well contracted sales book

•Maintained forecast earnings range of 40 –60 cents per share

3

Variable milk supply and strong demand from key importing regions
Production

Imports

•Current dairy market conditions remain favourable:

–Continued strong demand from key import

regions, particularly Southeast Asia

–China import demand improving as local supply

growth moderates

–US production constrained to date, signs of

growth as yield per cow increases and more

recently total milking cows has grown

–Favourable weather in Victoria and New South

Wales driving improved Australian production,

offsetting declines in smaller regions

–Strong New Zealand production due to

favourable weather and pasture conditions

across most of the country

–EU production continues to be adversely

impacted by weather and animal health issues

US

3-month

0.3%

12-month

0.3%

EU

3-month


0.8%

12-month

0.1%

China

3-month


9.1%

12-month


12.2%

Asia (excl China)

3-month

11.9%

12-month


10.3%

New Zealand

3-month

4.7%

12-month

1.1%

Australia

3-month

1.7%

12-month

3.4%

Middle East & Africa

3-month


1.6%

12-month

2.4%

Latin America

3-month

9.1%

12-month

7.5%

4

2,500
3,500

4,500

5,500

6,500

Revenue price relativities unfavourable compared to Q1 prior year

Fonterra Revenue Reference and Non-Reference Price Relativities (USD/MT)

Note: Data represents Fonterra’s actual Reference and Non-Reference prices of the New Zealand Ingredients portfolio on a Free Alongside Ship (FAS) basis

5

Q1 FY23

Q1 FY24

Q1 FY25

Reference Product shipment price

Non-Reference Product shipment price

Average Non-Reference price:

Average Reference price:

USD 4,939

USD 4,315

Average Non-Reference price:

Average Reference price:

USD 4,333

USD 3,312

Average Non-Reference price:

Average Reference price:

USD 4,398

USD 3,924

Price difference: 623Price difference: 1,021Price difference: 474

Unfavourable price relativities compared to prior

year due to an 18% increase in Reference prices

relative to a 1% increase in Non-Reference prices

346
46392(58)

(81)

(40)

8

42263

Key performance drivers

Operating profit drivers

20c EPS24c EPS

16c EPS

FY24 Q1

Profit after tax

Reversal of FY24

Discontinued

operations

loss after tax

FY24 Q1

Continuing

operations

profit after tax

VolumeMarginOperating

expenses and other

Net finance

costs

TaxFY25 Q1

Profit after tax

Note: For the three months ended 31 October. Profit after tax presented in the graph includes profit attributable to non-controlling interests. EPS presented is for profit attributable to equity holders of the Co-operative

FY24 Q1 to FY25 Q1 profit after tax

($ million)

6

Margins impacted by rate of

increase in cost of milk at end

of FY24 relative to in-market

price increases

Lower sales volumes reflecting the

strong finish to FY24 and therefore

lower FY25 opening inventory

Driven by planned $31m

increase in IT & Digital

transformation spend

Stable Ingredients performance, recovery in Foodservice and Consumer
ConsumerFoodservice

Ingredients

7

•Lower sales volumes compared to FY24 Q1

reflecting lower opening inventoryand this

year’s greater allocation of milk to Foodservice

and Consumer

•Lower gross margins compared to FY24 Q1 as

price relativities narrow in NZ, partially offset by

improved alignment between the domestic milk

price and global commodity prices in Australia

•Higher sales volumes due to growth in Greater

China and Southeast Asia

•Lower gross margins compared to FY24 Q1 due

to materially higher cost of milk

•Margins improving following sharp increase in

milk costs in FY24 Q4 as in-market teams

successfully adjust pricing to reflect higher costs

•Volume growth driven by successful brand

promotion in Southeast Asia

•Gross margins impacted by sharp increase in

milk costs in FY24 Q4

•FY25 Q1 margin recovery driven by price

increases in Southeast Asia, partially offset by

slower recovery in NZ

415668601550372

16.2%

11.9%

13.7%

11.3%

15.9%

Q1Q2Q3Q4Q1

FY24FY25

Volume (000' MT)

Gross margin

146149133136152

29.4%

23.3%

23.5%

16.0%

18.0%

Q1Q2Q3Q4Q1

FY24FY25

174169163166180

28.8%

25.2%

26.5%

18.5%

22.9%

Q1Q2Q3Q4Q1

FY24FY25

FY25 outlook
$9.50 – $10.50

per kgMS

Forecast Farmgate Milk Price

FY25 forecast earnings¹

per share

40 – 60 cents

The forecast range reflects:

•underlying operating profit stable as volume, product mix, and

sales pricing offsets higher cost of milk in second half of

financial year

•increased investment in IT & Digital transformation technology

and higher effective annual tax rate, which will generate

imputation credits

The forecast range reflects:

•US and EU milk supply continuing to be constrained relative to

demand, and increased production in New Zealand

•recovery of demand in Greater China is maintained and strong

demand in Southeast Asia continues

1.Forecast excludes costs associated with divestment of Consumer businessand integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka

Additional
Information

9

Additional

Information

Fonterra’s New Zealand milk collections
•Season to date collections, 1 June – 31

October,were 512 million kgMS, 4.7% ahead of

the last season

•Higher collections due to

−Favourable weather conditions in the

North Island with above normal soil

moisture levels. Sunlight levels and

temperatures are tracking above average

and contributing to strong pasture growth

−South Island started the season with an

earlier calving pattern and favourable

weather conditions but experienced heavy

rainfall in October

•Variable weather conditions across the South

Island as some regions in lower South Island

showing a large water table surplus

-

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

JunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMay

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

SeasonTotal Milk Solids (kgMS)Peak Day Milk

2022/231,480m (up 0.1%)

78m litres

2023/241,471m (down 0.6%)

76m litres

2024/251,498m

1

(up 1.8%)

77m litres

1. Current full season forecast

10

Volume (million litres/day)

Continuing and discontinued operations
NZD million

20242025∆%

1

Sales volume ('000 MT)

735704

(4)%

Sales volume (million kgMS)

329311

(5)%

Revenue

4,9725,197

5%

Cost of goods sold

(3,908)(4,272)

(9)%

Gross profit

1,064925

(13)%

Operating expenses

(525)(575)

(10)%

Other

2

3646

28%

EBIT

575396

(31)%

Net finance costs and tax expense

(183)(133)

27%

Profit after tax from continuing operations

392263

(33)%

Profit/(Loss) after tax from discontinued operations

(46)-

-

Total Group profit after tax

3

346263

(24)%

Gross margin

21.4%17.8%

EBIT margin

11.6%7.6%

Note: Total Group figures are for the three months ended 31 October

1.Percentages as shown in table may not align to the calculation of percentages based on numbers in the table due to rounding of figures

2.Consists of other operating income, net foreign exchange gains/(losses) and share of equity accounted investees

3.Includes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests

•Lower sales volumes reflecting the strong finish to FY24

and therefore lower FY25 opening inventory

•Increased allocation of milk solids to higher value

products reducing impact of lower volumes and

increased cost of milk

•Increased operating expenses reflect planned $35m

spend in Q1 on IT & Digital transformation

•Lower financing costs and lower taxable operating profit

11

Key financial metrics for Total Group Q1
Sales volume (‘000 MT)

Revenue ($ billion)Gross profit ($ million)

Operating expenses ($ million)

785

661

944

1,130

925

20212022202320242025

832

801

875

794

704

20212022202320242025

4.2

4.4

5.8

5.1

5.2

20212022202320242025

560

513

581

630

575

20212022202320242025

EBIT ($ million)

235

190

368

536

396

20212022202320242025

Profit after tax ($ million)

121116

214

346

263

20212022202320242025

Note: Figures are for the 3 months ended 31 October and are presented on a reported basis, unless otherwise stated. Comparative information has been re-presented for consistency with the current period

12

Free cash flow
1

($ million)

(844)

(1,166)

(565)

(517)

(1,134)

20212022202320242025

Continuing operations EBIT

2


($ million)

178

157

353

575

396

20212022202320242025

Continuing operations profit after tax

2


($ million)

68

95

212

392

263

20212022202320242025

Note: Figures are for the 3 months ended 31 October and are presented on a reported basis, unless otherwise stated

1.Comparative information has been re-presented for consistency with the current period

2.Soprole was classed as a discontinued operation in 2023. Consequently, 2021 and 2022 are re-presented

Key financial metrics for Total Group Q1

13

Data sources
Dairy Production and Imports

•12-month production

−New Zealand, Australia US (Oct 2023 to Oct 2024) DCANZ, Dairy Australia, USDA

−EU (Sep 2023 to Sep 2024), Eurostat

•3-month production

−New Zealand, Australia, US (Aug 2023 – Oct 2023 to Aug 2024 – Oct 2024) DCANZ, Dairy Australia, USDA

−EU (Jul 2023 – Sep 2023 to Jul 2024 – Sep 2024) Eurostat

•12-month imports

−China (Oct 2023 to Oct 2024) S&P Global

−LATAM, Asia (excl. China), Middle East & Africa (Sep 2023 – Sep 2024) S&P Global

•3-month imports

−China (Aug 2023 – Oct 2023 to Aug 2024 – Oct 2024) S&P Global

−LATAM, Asia (excl. China), Middle East & Africa (Jul 2023 – Sep 2023 to Jul 2024 – Sep 2024) S&P Global

14

Glossary
Consumer

represents the channel of branded consumer products, such as

powders, yoghurts, milk, butter, and cheese


Continuing operations

means operations of the Group that are not discontinued operations


Core Operations

represents core operating functions including New Zealand milk

collection and processing operations and assets, supply chain and

sustainability, Fonterra Farm Source retail stores, and the

optimisation function


Discontinued operations

means a component of the Group that is classified as held for sale (or

has been sold) and represents, or is part of a single coordinated plan to

dispose of, a separate major line of business or geographical area of

operations, or is a subsidiary acquired exclusively with a view to resale


Eliminations

represents eliminations of inter-business unit sales


Farmgate Milk Price

means the average price paid by Fonterra in New Zealand for each

kgMS supplied by Fonterra’s farmer shareholders under Fonterra’s

standard terms of supply. The Farmgate Milk Price is set by the Board,

based on the recommendation of the Milk Price Panel. In making that

recommendation, the Panel provides assurance to the Board that the

Farmgate Milk Price has been calculated in accordance with the

Farmgate Milk Price Manual

Foodservice

represents the channel selling to businesses that cater for out-of-home

consumption; restaurants, hotels, cafés, airports, catering companies

etc. The focus is on customers such as; bakeries, cafés, Italian

restaurants, and global quick-service restaurant chains. High

performance dairy ingredients including whipping creams, mozzarella,

cream cheese and butter sheets, are sold in alongside our business

solutions under the Anchor Food Professionals brand

Gearing ratio (%)

is adjusted net debt divided by total capital. Total capital is equity

excluding hedge reserves, plus adjusted net debt


Ingredients

represents the channel comprising bulk and specialty dairy products

such as milk powders, dairy fats, cheese and proteins manufactured in

New Zealand, Australia and Europe, or sourced through our global

network, and sold to food producers and distributors


kgMS

means kilograms of milk solids, the measure of the amount of fat and

protein in the milk supplied to Fonterra

Non-Reference Products

means all NZ milk solids processed by Core Operations, except for

Reference Commodity Products


Price relativities

refers to the difference in the weighted average price (in USD) between

the Reference Product portfolio and Non-Reference Product portfolio.

The difference between these two weighted average prices is a key

driver of the Ingredients’ gross margin


Reference Products

are the five commodity groups used to calculate the Farmgate Milk

Price, being Whole Milk Powder (WMP) and Skim Milk Powder (SMP),

and their by-products Butter, Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF) and Buttermilk

Powder (BMP)

Season

New Zealand: A period of 12 months from 1 June to 31 May

Australia: A period of 12 months from 1 July to 30 June

Total Group

is used to indicate that a measure or sub-total comprises continuing

operations, discontinued operations and non-controlling interests. E.g.

‘Total Group EBIT’

15

Fonterra uses several non-GAAP measures when discussing financial performance. Non-GAAP measures are not defined or specified by NZ IFRS.
Management believes that these measures provide useful information as they provide valuable insight on the underlying performance of the business. They may be used internally to

evaluate the underlying performance of business units and to analyse trends. These measures are not uniformly defined or utilised by all companies. Accordingly, these measures may not

be comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation nor considered as a substitute for measures

reported in accordance with NZ IFRS. Non-GAAP measures are not subject to audit unless they are included in Fonterra’s audited annual financial statements.

Please refer to the Glossary for definitions of non-GAAP measures referred to by Fonterra.

16

Non-GAAP Measures

Data sourced from publicly available filings. Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@nzxplorer.co.nz. For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.

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