Fonterra plans to open up its online auctions to allow rival companies to sell their dairy products from the platform.
Fonterra's globalDairyTrade is an internet-based auction platform where sellers offer a range of commodity dairy products, including wholemilk powder.
More than $4 billion worth of products has been traded since fortnightly auctions began in July 2008.
GlobalDairyTrade manager Paul Grave says Fonterra always aimed to add more companies to the platform, and he hopes the move will attract more buyers from around the world.
Mr Grave says no one has made a formal commitment to sell their products at the auctions yet, but several companies have been helping to develop the market rules.
They include major dairy producers from Europe, the United States and Australia.
Mr Grave says Fonterra also plans to widen the range of products it sells at the auctions: milk protein concentrate and rennet casein will be added from mid-May, and cheese possibly at a later date.
