Total exports of apples from the port of Napier in March 2023 were valued at $61 million, slightly up (2.0 percent) from March last year, according to data released by Stats NZ today.
The quantity of apples exported from the port of Napier fell 17 percent, to 20 million kilograms, in March 2023. The average quantity of apples exported from the port of Napier in March months, from 2018 to 2022, was 34 million kilograms.
Over the past 12 months, 62 percent of New Zealand apple exports (by value) were from the port of Napier. The ports of Tauranga and Nelson exported 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| February | 6382675 | 6882150 | 8597958 | 6057777 | 4466908 |
| March | 52691275 | 50748611 | 45366823 | 37344924 | 34452351 |
| April | 79700612 | 87457760 | 59338163 | 58280667 | |
| May | 93829644 | 86463555 | 69973109 | 76544852 | |
| June | 80138156 | 73080591 | 78934490 | 60056116 | |
| July | 42112502 | 49921366 | 47021070 | 49470124 | |
| August | 22794164 | 25683393 | 27811610 | 26793777 | |
| September | 7657168 | 12440064 | 11660745 | 16568494 | |
| October | 3637209 | 5919711 | 5615835 | 6422866 |
Total apple exports from New Zealand in March 2023 were valued at $99 million, up $4.4 million from March 2022. Apple season usually spans from February to October, with April, May, and June the peak months for apple exports.
"Apple export values are holding up well for the season so far, despite a fall in volume," international trade manager Al Allen said. "As exports of apples move into their peak season, we may see further effects from the cyclones and other weather events from early 2023."
In March 2023, $31 million worth of apples were exported to China, $15 million to Viet Nam, and $8.8 million to Taiwan.
| Country | Value |
| European Union | 2787473915 |
| United Kingdom | 1427096286 |
| United States of America | 1361921191 |
| People's Republic of China | 885312736 |
| Taiwan | 846714295 |
| Thailand | 626851153 |
| Viet Nam | 586501570 |
| Rest of the world | 2932474417 |
Total exports from the port of Napier fell $277 million (28 percent) in the first three months of 2023 compared with their respective 2022 months. This fall was led by meat, down $176 million (42 percent).
| Year | January | February | March |
| 2015 | 2.97E+08 | 3.22E+08 | 3.82E+08 |
| 2016 | 2.40E+08 | 2.80E+08 | 3.47E+08 |
| 2017 | 3.27E+08 | 3.63E+08 | 4.45E+08 |
| 2018 | 2.64E+08 | 2.98E+08 | 4.16E+08 |
| 2019 | 2.70E+08 | 3.30E+08 | 4.44E+08 |
| 2020 | 2.93E+08 | 3.04E+08 | 4.20E+08 |
| 2021 | 2.85E+08 | 3.40E+08 | 4.58E+08 |
| 2022 | 3.03E+08 | 3.07E+08 | 3.85E+08 |
| 2023 | 2.41E+08 | 2.04E+08 | 2.73E+08 |
Steady start to kiwifruit season
Kiwifruit exports were up $7.4 million (5.9 percent) in March 2023, compared with March 2022. This was almost all gold kiwifruit, which is typical for the first month of the season. Kiwifruit exports were mainly from the port of Tauranga (94 percent) in March 2023. Japan received over half of the total kiwifruit exported in March 2023.
The kiwifruit season typically runs from March to November.
| Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| March | 82063371 | 186261209 | 173686173 | 124265678 | 131651518 |
| April | 439574043 | 581723688 | 476873712 | 523482510 | |
| May | 440701003 | 453792381 | 457281511 | 542222605 | |
| June | 282660356 | 304847415 | 433001768 | 465225718 | |
| July | 337004454 | 364093399 | 344864637 | 298905900 | |
| August | 296025354 | 396158870 | 377822458 | 300325798 | |
| September | 230457153 | 233725180 | 278036357 | 219507499 | |
| October | 122014510 | 113220708 | 189950884 | 118443386 | |
| November | 33636488 | 35962768 | 51595086 | 49777385 |
Vegetable exports rise in March
Onion exports in March 2023 were valued at $44 million, up 88 percent from March 2022, with the quantity up 25 percent. March is usually the peak month for the onion export season.
Total exports of squash in March 2023 were valued at $19 million, up 22 percent from March 2022, while the quantity decreased 17 percent.
Onion and squash export values combined made up 70 percent of total vegetable exports in March 2023.
