The value of New Zealand's horticultural exports jumped 19% year-on-year in 2016 to a record NZ$5.1 billion (US$3.6 billion), with kiwifruit representing a third of that figure.

According to the new issue of industry publication Fresh Facts, key exports included NZ$1.7 billion of kiwifruit, NZ$1.6 billion of wine, primarily Marlborough Sauvignon blanc, and NZ$690 million of apples

The total New Zealand horticulture industry is worth NZ$8.7 billion a year.

The report, published by Plant & Food New Zealand, showed that since 2010, the value of exports from horticulture has increased by more than 50%.

“It’s exciting to see the horticulture industry is on track to meet its goal of $10 billion by 2020,” Horticulture New Zealand CEO Mike Chapman said.

“Our keen understanding of the global consumer and the commitment to quality at every stage of the value chain means our produce commands a premium in the marketplace, and this is reflected in the outstanding growth of the industry.”

Fresh fruit made up nearly half of the country's total 2016 horticultural export value, with NZ$2.6 billion.

Following kiwifruit and apples, avocados were the most significant export, with shipments totaling NZ$83 million. This was closely followed by summerfruit like cherries and apricots.

The kiwifruit export figure represents a 42% increase on 2015 and a 65% lift on the five-year average.

In 2015, kiwifruit was exported to more than 50 countries and of the NZ$1.1 billion that went to Asian countries, three Asian countries imported more than NZ$100m: Japan NZ$390m (2015: NZ$275m); China NZ$373m ($200m), Taiwan NZ$154m ($101m).

Kiwifruit to the value of NZ$435m (US$352m) went to European countries, of which NZ$108m was shipped to Spain (US$88m).

New Zealand also exported NZ$259 million of fresh vegetables in 2016.

Exports by destination

Asia was by far the leading destination for New Zealand horticultural exports, having risen 65% since 2010 to reach NZ$1.93 billion, of which more than NZ$1 billion came from kiwifruit, NZ$320 million was from apples and NZ$66 million was from cherries.

Strong wine sales put North America in second spot, while the market also received NZ$115 million worth of the country's apples and NZ$70 million of its kiwifruit.

Neighboring Australia was the third-largest destination with NZ$804 million with wine the major import product, followed by processed vegetables (NZ$94 million), avocados (NZ$71 million) and potatoes (NZ$60 million).

Continental Europe imported NZ$741 million of horticultural products from New Zealand with kiwifruit accounting for well over half, followed by wine, apples and onions, while the U.K. and Ireland imported NZ$496 million with wine, apples, honey and onions as the main products.

The remaining NZ$35 million in shipments went to Central America, South America and Africa, with half of sales coming from kiwifruit. 

www.freshfruitportal.com