NZ annual fruit exports jump, led by record kiwifruit sales
By Tina Morrison
July 26 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand fruit exports have been the shining star of commodities over the past year,
countering a weak period for exports of dairy products.
The country's merchandise exports advanced 2 percent to $49.34 billion in the 12 months ended June 30, Statistics New
Zealand said. Fruit, the country's fourth-largest export commodity, jumped 31 percent to $2.63 billion, while dairy
exports, the largest group, declined 7.3 percent to $11.16 billion, the agency said.
Fruit exports are going through a purple patch as previous investment in developing markets and varieties starts to pay
off. The $617 million gain in annual fruit exports eclipsed a $250 million rise in forestry product exports and a $237
million increase in meat exports. The increase in annual fruit exports was led by kiwifruit, which set a new record, up
41 percent to $1.7 billion, while apple exports increased 23 percent.
ANZ rural economist Con Williams said the apple industry has developed new trademarked varieties that are favoured by
higher returning Asian market, and the kiwifruit industry is more weighted towards the golden varieties which face less
competitive pressure and are preferred in Asian countries for the sweeter taste, helping lift price premiums. That
contrasts with the country’s dairy and meat industries, which have tended to position themselves as lower-cost
producers, he said.
The data show annual merchandise imports advanced 2.5 percent to $52.65 billion, resulting in an annual trade deficit of
$3.31 billion, in line with a Reuters poll of economists. That's wider than the $2.98 billion annual deficit a year
earlier.
For the month of June, exports rose 2.6 percent to $4.26 billion from the same month a year earlier, as fruit exports
gained 30 percent, Statistics NZ said. Kiwifruit led the rise as the value increased 47 percent and the volume rose 32
percent. Gold kiwifruit rose 65 percent in value and 49 percent in quantity, while green kiwifruit lifted 28 percent in
value and 21 percent in quantity.
Imports in the June month declined 4.6 percent to $4.13 billion, led by a 12 percent drop in intermediate goods.
Processed industrial supplies, such as fertiliser, soya bean oil cake and palm oil cake, dropped 3.7 percent; primary
industrial supplies excluding food and beverages, such as calcium phosphates, dropped 37 percent, while crude oil
declined 24 percent, Statistics NZ said.
The trade surplus for the month was $127 million.
(BusinessDesk)