May Wang’s plans to export millions of packets of UHT milk to China this season could be in jeopardy as the Mt Maunganui plant being built to produce the milk is behind schedule.

Ms Wang’s factory is due to start taking DIRA milk from Fonterra this Friday, but the plant isn’t ready to accept it, and may void its supply contract with Fonterra for the season as a result.

The plant is thought to have cost around $20m, and was funded by Natural Dairy Holdings.

Spokesperson Bill Ralston says delays shouldn’t pose any serious problems for Natural Dairy’s other New Zealand interests.

“They’ve purchased some extra equipment for the lines in Tauranga, and that’s taking longer than expected in the contract with Fonterra.

"They’ve had so many changes in the last few weeks with the operation, I don’t think it’s exactly apocalyptic."

The plant is supposed to produce 150 million 250ml packets of UHT milk for export to China this season.

Ms Wang is understood to be negotiating a new agreement with Fonterra.

NATURAL DAIRY LATE ON RESULTS

Natural Dairy Holdings has again delayed the release of its annual result to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and refuses to say why.

The company, which is looking to buy 16 Crafar family farms, was supposed to announce its result for the 14 months to May at the end of September.

It missed that deadline, blaming ‘overseas subsidiaries’ for not providing information in time, but failed to meet an October 8 release as well.

The company admits it is in breach of exchange rules, and now says all will be revealed on October 29.

Spokesperson Bill Ralston says the delay is nothing serious.

"With the results delay, that’s very common, they’ve just got a lot to do, and it’s just delayed.

"There’s nothing particularly unusual in any of this, it’s part of the growing pains of what is effectively a start up company.”