Fonterra is considering sending a team of New Zealanders to Chile as it deals with the aftermath of the huge earthquake which struck on Saturday.
The dairy company owns Soprole, Chile's largest consumer dairy business, which has a plant near the city of Concepcion, which is 115km from the epicentre of the 8.8-magnitude quake.
There have been no reports of Fonterra staff being killed or injured, but communications are difficult and the company has still to account for 49 of its 55 workers at the severely damaged Concepcion plant.
Fonterra has 1700 employees in total in Chile.
Kevin Murray of Fonterra's Latin America division told Morning Report on Thursday the company will decide over the next 24 hours what extra help a local crisis team might need.
He says Fonterra has a New Zealand-based emergency response team ready to help its staff in Chile.
The co-operative's biggest plant in Osorno is not damaged, but a shortage of diesel is affecting milk pick-ups.
Fonterra's Latin American division, including Soprole, and Dairy Partners Americas - a joint venture with Nestle - account for 5% of Fonterra's revenue and 10% of earnings.
