This reports on the sharp rise in butter prices in New Zealand as announced by Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) on July 28, 2024.
As of July 17, 2025, butter prices over the past 12 months (until June 25, 2025) increased by 4.6% compared to the same period last year, reaching 13.04 New Zealand dollars (approximately 1,170 yen) per kilogram. This price level is more than 2.2 times higher compared to 10 years ago. Stats NZ commented that food prices are "rising significantly," indicating that this price increase is part of broader trends in agricultural markets.
In terms of industry response, industry leaders including major dairy company Fonterra have engaged in discussions about the price increases, focusing on market conditions and potential impacts on consumers. Some government officials have expressed views that price increases are not necessarily problematic and reflect market realities.
This price increase has broader implications including impacts on New Zealand's dairy exports, reflection of economic and agricultural challenges, and potential effects on the long-term competitiveness of the dairy industry.
The article concludes that butter price increases should not be viewed simply as general price inflation, but analyzed from multiple perspectives as a phenomenon that highlights economic complexity.