Fonterra's new processing site at Darfield in Canterbury is now operating, with the first bags of whole milk powder on their way to South East Asia, China and the Middle East.
Operations director Brent Taylor says the new plant produced 40 tonnes of milk powder product in its first full day of operations.
At peak capacity, Darfield will convert about 2.2 million litres of milk per day into whole milk powder.
A second milk drier is already planned, which will triple the site's capacity.
