Fonterra achieved a 25% reduction in its operational emissions intensity. The cooperative also diverted 98% of its waste from landfill last year. This data connects environmental performance directly to its global supply chain.
Key Takeaways
- Fonterra achieved 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per kgMS since 2019 baseline as of 2023.
- Fonterra's total water usage across farms and plants was 1.2 billion cubic metres in FY2023.
- 95% of Fonterra's supplier farms achieved sustainable dairy status in 2023.
- Fonterra's total revenue for the fiscal year 2023 reached NZ$16.8 billion, marking a 6% increase from the previous year driven by higher dairy prices.
- Net profit after tax for Fonterra in FY2023 stood at NZ$1.14 billion, up 38% from FY2022 due to improved margins.
- Fonterra's return on capital employed (ROCE) improved to 10.2% in FY2023 from 7.5% in FY2022.
- Fonterra employed 19,000 full-time equivalent staff globally as of 2023.
- Fonterra's New Zealand workforce numbered 11,500 employees in FY2023.
- Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) for Fonterra was 2.1 per million hours in 2023.
- Fonterra exports dairy products to 140 countries as of 2023.
- Greater China accounted for 28% of Fonterra's total sales revenue in FY2023.
- Fonterra's export revenue from whole milk powder to Asia was NZ$4.5 billion in FY2023.
- Fonterra collected 1,808 million kgMS of milk solids in the 2022/23 season, an increase of 1% from the previous season.
- Fonterra's milk collection from North Island farms totalled 780 million kgMS in 2022/23.
- South Island milk solids collected by Fonterra in 2022/23 reached 1,028 million kgMS.
In 2023, Fonterra reduced climate impacts while improving water, waste, and renewable energy performance across its value chain.
Related reading
01 · Category
Environmental Impact26 stats
01
Fonterra achieved 25% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per kgMS since 2019 baseline as of 2023.
02
Fonterra's total water usage across farms and plants was 1.2 billion cubic metres in FY2023.
03
95% of Fonterra's supplier farms achieved sustainable dairy status in 2023.
04
Fonterra diverted 98% of waste from landfill in FY2023 operations.
05
On-farm nitrogen leaching reduced by 25% on 80% of Fonterra farms by 2023.
06
Fonterra's renewable energy usage reached 35% of total energy in 2023.
07
Total GHG emissions for Fonterra's value chain were 25 million tCO2e in FY2023.
08
Fonterra planted over 1 million trees through its sustainability programme in 2023.
09
Water efficiency improved to 2.8 litres per kgMS processed in FY2023 plants.
10
100% of Fonterra's owned processing sites achieved zero wastewater discharge to water in 2023.
11
Fonterra's Scope 3 emissions from milk production were 20 million tCO2e in 2023.
12
Biodiversity enhancement on 50% of supplier farms by 2023 via Fonterra programmes.
13
Fonterra reduced energy intensity by 15% since 2018 to 2023.
14
75% of Fonterra's electricity from renewable sources in New Zealand operations 2023.
15
Fonterra's packaging recyclability reached 92% across products in FY2023.
16
Soil health improved on 60% of audited Fonterra farms in 2023.
17
Fonterra's total carbon footprint per kg product down 20% from 2019 to 2023.
18
40% reduction target met early for freshwater use per kgMS by 2030 as of 2023 progress.
19
Fonterra supported riparian planting on 5,000 km of farm streams by 2023.
20
Methane inhibitors trialled on 20% of Fonterra herds reducing emissions 10% in 2023.
21
Fonterra's waste to energy projects processed 50,000 tonnes in FY2023.
22
85% of Fonterra suppliers using low-emission feed by end of 2023.
23
Fonterra's net zero roadmap validated by SBTi in 2023 for 2050 target.
24
Water recycling rate at Fonterra plants averaged 70% in FY2023.
25
Fonterra farms achieved 50% reduction in synthetic nitrogen fertiliser use by 2023.
26
Total protected wetland area on Fonterra farms expanded to 10,000 hectares in 2023.
Interpretation
Environmental Impact Interpretation
Fonterra's sustainability report reads like a determined, slightly sweaty overachiever's report card, showcasing significant strides in cutting emissions and waste while cautiously noting the colossal scale of water and total emissions it must still wrangle.
02 · Category
Financial Metrics29 stats
01
Fonterra's total revenue for the fiscal year 2023 reached NZ$16.8 billion, marking a 6% increase from the previous year driven by higher dairy prices.
02
Net profit after tax for Fonterra in FY2023 stood at NZ$1.14 billion, up 38% from FY2022 due to improved margins.
03
Fonterra's return on capital employed (ROCE) improved to 10.2% in FY2023 from 7.5% in FY2022.
04
Total assets of Fonterra as of July 31, 2023, were valued at NZ$18.9 billion.
05
Fonterra's debt-to-equity ratio decreased to 0.45 in FY2023 from 0.52 in FY2022.
06
Operating cash flow for Fonterra in FY2023 was NZ$2.3 billion, a record high.
07
Dividends paid to farmers by Fonterra in FY2023 totaled NZ$8.25per kgMS.
08
Fonterra's EBITDAF (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortisation, and Fair Value) was NZ$2.5 billion in FY2023.
09
Capital expenditure by Fonterra in FY2023 amounted to NZ$750 million focused on processing plants.
10
Fonterra's market capitalisation as of mid-2023 was approximately NZ$10.2 billion.
11
Revenue from whole milk powder sales contributed 25% of Fonterra's total FY2023 revenue.
12
Fonterra's FY2022 revenue was NZ$15.9 billion with a net loss of NZ$1.27 billion due to hedging.
13
Interest expenses for Fonterra in FY2023 were NZ$320 million.
14
Fonterra's equity attributable to owners was NZ$7.8 billion at FY2023 end.
15
Tax expense recognised by Fonterra in FY2023 was NZ$380 million.
16
Fonterra's FY2021 revenue hit NZ$14.7 billion amid supply chain challenges.
17
Gross margin for Fonterra's Ingredients division in FY2023 was 12.5%.
18
Fonterra's total liabilities as of FY2023 were NZ$11.1 billion.
19
Shareholder returns via farmgate milk price averaged NZ$9.25/kgMS in FY2023.
20
Fonterra's FY2020 revenue was NZ$14.3 billion despite COVID impacts.
21
Net finance costs for Fonterra in FY2023 totalled NZ$290 million.
22
Fonterra's Ingredients segment revenue grew 8% to NZ$11.2 billion in FY2023.
23
Consumer Brands division revenue for Fonterra FY2023 was NZ$4.1 billion.
24
Fonterra's current ratio stood at 1.25 in FY2023.
25
FY2023 impairment charges for Fonterra were NZ$150 million on assets.
26
Fonterra's Oceania revenue in FY2023 was NZ$3.8 billion.
27
Asia-Pacific revenue contribution to Fonterra FY2023 totalled NZ$6.5 billion.
28
Greater China sales revenue for Fonterra in FY2023 reached NZ$4.2 billion.
29
Fonterra's Rest of World revenue in FY2023 was NZ$2.3 billion.
Interpretation
Financial Metrics Interpretation
While Fonterra's farmers may be moo-ving right along with a record payout, the co-op's serious fiscal glow-up—turning a staggering $1.27 billion loss into a $1.14 billion profit while strengthening its balance sheet—proves it's finally milking the market for all it's worth.
03 · Category
Human Resources and Operations30 stats
01
Fonterra employed 19,000 full-time equivalent staff globally as of 2023.
02
Fonterra's New Zealand workforce numbered 11,500 employees in FY2023.
03
Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) for Fonterra was 2.1 per million hours in 2023.
04
Fonterra invested NZ$50 million in staff training and development in FY2023.
05
Women represented 42% of Fonterra's leadership roles in 2023.
06
Fonterra operated 85 manufacturing sites worldwide in 2023.
07
Staff turnover rate at Fonterra was 8.5% in FY2023.
08
Fonterra's R&D team size grew to 400 scientists and technicians by 2023.
09
95% employee engagement score achieved by Fonterra in 2023 surveys.
10
Fonterra suppliers totalled 10,100 dairy farms under contract in 2023.
11
Automation reduced manual labour needs by 15% in Fonterra plants in 2023.
12
Fonterra's international staff numbered 7,500 across 10 countries in FY2023.
13
Lost time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) dropped to 0.4 per million hours in 2023.
14
Fonterra apprenticeships provided to 500 young workers in 2023.
15
Diversity training completed by 90% of Fonterra employees in FY2023.
16
Fonterra's 24/7 Global Service Centre supports 5,000 users daily in 2023.
17
Māori and Pacific peoples made up 15% of Fonterra's NZ workforce in 2023.
18
Fonterra's uptime for processing plants averaged 98.5% in FY2023.
19
2,000 contract farmers supported by Fonterra's advisory services in 2023.
20
Fonterra's digital farm tools adopted by 70% of suppliers by 2023.
21
Employee volunteering hours totalled 50,000 for Fonterra staff in FY2023.
22
Fonterra's supply chain partners numbered over 1,000 globally in 2023.
23
Safety audits completed on 100% of Fonterra sites annually in 2023.
24
Fonterra's leadership development programme trained 200 managers in 2023.
25
Remote work options available to 40% of Fonterra's office-based staff in 2023.
26
Fonterra processed 22 million payments to suppliers monthly in 2023.
27
Innovation challenges engaged 1,000 employees internally in FY2023.
28
Fonterra's health and wellbeing programmes reached 85% participation in 2023.
29
Total operational sites including joint ventures: 110 as of 2023.
30
Fonterra's farmer-shareholder dryers operated by 200 staff in 2023.
Interpretation
Human Resources and Operations Interpretation
While Fonterra's impressive 95% employee engagement and significant safety investments suggest a thriving, well-oiled machine, the 8.5% turnover and automation's 15% labour reduction reveal the delicate balancing act of keeping a global dairy giant both productive and human.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market and Sales Data25 stats
01
Fonterra exports dairy products to 140 countries as of 2023.
02
Greater China accounted for 28% of Fonterra's total sales revenue in FY2023.
03
Fonterra's export revenue from whole milk powder to Asia was NZ$4.5 billion in FY2023.
04
Southeast Asia markets contributed 15% to Fonterra's FY2023 sales.
05
Fonterra's sales volume of skim milk powder reached 1.05 million tonnes exported in 2022/23.
06
United States imported NZ$1.2 billion worth of Fonterra products in 2023.
07
Fonterra's market share in global dairy trade is approximately 5% as of 2023.
08
Australia represented 12% of Fonterra's Oceania sales volume in FY2023.
09
Fonterra supplied 30% of the world's traded GMP in 2023.
10
Latin America sales for Fonterra grew 10% to NZ$800 million in FY2023.
11
Fonterra's cheese exports totalled 350,000 tonnes in 2022/23 season.
12
Middle East and Africa contributed NZ$1.1 billion to Fonterra's FY2023 revenue.
13
Fonterra's branded consumer products sold 1.2 million tonnes in 140 countries in 2023.
14
North Asia (ex-China) sales volume for Fonterra was 400,000 tonnes in FY2023.
15
Fonterra holds 40% share of New Zealand's dairy exports value in 2023.
16
Europe imported NZ$900 million from Fonterra in FY2023.
17
Fonterra's online B2B platform GDT averaged US$3,500/MT for WMP in 2023 events.
18
Domestic New Zealand sales by Fonterra totalled NZ$2.5 billion in FY2023.
19
Fonterra's infant formula sales in China grew 5% to 150,000 tonnes in 2023.
20
Total dairy export value from Fonterra was NZ$13.5 billion in FY2023.
21
Fonterra's MPC sales volume to food manufacturers was 180,000 tonnes in 2023.
22
Africa market growth for Fonterra products was 12% YoY in FY2023 volume.
23
Fonterra's UHT milk exports to Southeast Asia reached 300 million litres in 2023.
24
Joint ventures contributed 20% to Fonterra's international sales in FY2023.
25
Fonterra's butter exports totalled 250,000 tonnes primarily to Asia in 2022/23.
Interpretation
Market and Sales Data Interpretation
While Fonterra may only hold a 5% sliver of the global dairy trade, it clearly operates on the principle of 'go big or go home,' having buttered up Asia, milked its China formula for growth, and spread its cheese across 140 countries to become a billion-dollar behemoth with its fingers in every pie—and pudding.
05 · Category
Production Statistics29 stats
01
Fonterra collected 1,808 million kgMS of milk solids in the 2022/23 season, an increase of 1% from the previous season.
02
Fonterra's milk collection from North Island farms totalled 780 million kgMS in 2022/23.
03
South Island milk solids collected by Fonterra in 2022/23 reached 1,028 million kgMS.
04
Fonterra processed over 30 billion litres of milk equivalent in FY2023 across its plants.
05
Whole milk powder production by Fonterra in 2022/23 was 1.2 million metric tonnes.
06
Fonterra's skim milk powder output totalled 1.1 million tonnes in the 2022/23 dairy year.
07
Butter production at Fonterra plants exceeded 300,000 tonnes in 2022/23.
08
Cheese manufacturing by Fonterra produced 450,000 tonnes in FY2023.
09
Fonterra's anhydrous milk fat production was 150,000 tonnes in 2022/23 season.
10
Milk protein concentrate output from Fonterra reached 200,000 tonnes in FY2023.
11
Fonterra operated 28 milk processing sites in New Zealand during 2022/23.
12
Average milk solids per cow for Fonterra suppliers was 428 kgMS in 2022/23.
13
Fonterra's total herd size from suppliers was approximately 4.9 million cows in 2023.
14
Utilisation rate of Fonterra's drying capacity was 92% in 2022/23.
15
Fonterra produced 250,000 tonnes of lactose in FY2023.
16
Casein production by Fonterra totalled 120,000 tonnes in 2022/23.
17
Fonterra's whey protein concentrate output was 80,000 tonnes in FY2023.
18
Total UHT milk processed by Fonterra exceeded 500 million litres in 2022/23.
19
Fonterra's cream cheese production reached 50,000 tonnes annually in 2023.
20
Milk powder exported from Fonterra plants totalled 2.5 million tonnes in 2022/23.
21
Fonterra's yoghurt production capacity is 200,000 tonnes per year as of 2023.
22
Ice cream manufacturing output by Fonterra was 100,000 tonnes in FY2023.
23
Fonterra's GMP (GMP milk powder) production was 300,000 tonnes in 2022/23.
24
Total butterfat processed by Fonterra was 500 million kg in 2022/23.
25
Fonterra supplied milk to 10,200 farms in New Zealand in 2023.
26
Average daily milk collection rate at Fonterra plants peaked at 50 million litres/day in 2023.
27
Fonterra's 2021/22 milk solids collection was 1,790 million kgMS.
28
Protein content in Fonterra's collected milk averaged 3.95% in 2022/23.
29
Fat content average in supplier milk to Fonterra was 4.45% in 2023.
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Fonterra's mammoth 2022/23 season proves New Zealand's dairy cows are not just grazing, but rather operating a vast, sophisticated, and slightly unbelievable food factory where even the lactose is a serious by-product.
Reference
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APA
Elena Vasquez. (2026, February 13). Fonterra Dairy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/fonterra-dairy-industry-statistics
MLA
Elena Vasquez. "Fonterra Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/fonterra-dairy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elena Vasquez. 2026. "Fonterra Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/fonterra-dairy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
18 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level