Fruit exports dominated by gold kiwifruit

Gold kiwifruit continues to dominate fruit exports in an otherwise challenging market, Stats NZ said today.

In the year ended November 2021, gold kiwifruit made up 47 percent ($1.9 billion) of total fruit export value, while green kiwifruit made up 23 percent ($923 million).

Both increases were quantity driven, with prices falling compared with a year ago. Gold kiwifruit have a traditionally higher unit price than green. Since the kiwifruit season in 2016, which is typically from March to November, gold has overtaken green in terms of value. In the 2020 season, gold kiwifruit also overtook green in terms of volume.

"While green kiwifruit continues to be in high demand, growers in New Zealand are increasingly planting gold, and now red kiwifruit, to capture greater export value in markets like China and Japan," international trade manager Alasdair Allen said.

Total fruit exports remained relatively flat, up 1.3 percent in the year ended November 2021 compared with November 2020. Kiwifruit made up 71 percent ($2.8 billion) of the total value of fruit exports, while apples made up 21 percent ($843 million).

Apple exports fell 7.2 percent in value, with quantities down 11 percent this season, which traditionally ends in November.

"It's been a challenging season for apple growers, with some adverse weather events and continued labour shortages earlier in the year contributing to lower than usual output," Mr Allen said.

China is the top export market for New Zealand apples, overtaking the European Union for the 2021 season.