The first airfreighted consignment of fresh New Zealand avocados has arrived safely in China, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has said.

This follows agreement and signing of a protocol on phytosanitary requirements between New Zealand and China last November and a technical audit of the country's regulatory system for exporting avocados by Chinese officials in January.

“Securing export access for our avocados into China has been New Zealand’s top horticulture priority,” MPI director-general Martyn Dunne said.

“Granting of avocado access is the culmination of substantial work and negotiation over a number of years between New Zealand and China, and we're excited to reach this milestone.”

In recent years, New Zealand’s avocado exports have boomed. In 2016-17, New Zealand exported NZ$155.5 million (US$113 million) of avocados into markets including Australia, Japan, Singapore, Korea and Thailand – an increase of about NZ$64 million (US$47 million) from the previous season.

China is expected to be a significant market for New Zealand avocados.

“I would like to acknowledge the efforts by officials from China’s Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the substantial input from New Zealand’s avocado industry, towards getting access for our avocados over the line,” Dunne said.

This milestone will be marked at an event in Shanghai on Wednesday night with MPI, Chinese border officials, the New Zealand Consulate, members of the New Zealand avocado industry, and others. 

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