Arabfields, Nadia Aïssa, Correspondent, Wellington, New Zealand — New Zealand’s fruit export sector recorded a strong performance in March 2026, with overseas sales reaching NZ$757 million. This figure represents a 24 percent rise from the same month a year earlier and contributed to a 7.3 percent annual increase in the country’s total exports, which stood at NZ$7.9 billion.
Kiwifruit and apples together accounted for more than 95 percent of the fruit export value during the period. Kiwifruit shipments rose sharply by NZ$119 million, or 29 percent, to NZ$523 million. The gain stemmed from an earlier and larger gold kiwifruit harvest, along with a 20 percent increase in exports of that variety. Gold kiwifruit typically begins shipping in March, followed by green varieties in April and May, with the full season extending through November and peaking between April and June.
Viki Ward, spokesperson for international accounts at Stats NZ, highlighted the dominance of these two categories. She noted that kiwifruit and apples had driven nearly all the growth observed. The European Union remained the leading destination for New Zealand kiwifruit, where shipment volumes advanced 22 percent compared with March 2025.
Apples also delivered solid results, climbing NZ$22 million year on year to NZ$198 million. Royal Gala apples made up 51 percent of apple export value. China proved the top market for these fruits, taking NZ$70 million, equivalent to 35 percent of total apple shipments. The apple export season runs from February to October, with the busiest harvesting window falling between March and July.
The March figures reflect favourable growing conditions and timely harvesting decisions by producers across the country. Many orchard operators, who have expanded plantings of gold kiwifruit in recent years, reported smoother supply chains and stronger demand from established trading partners. This combination has provided welcome momentum at the start of the main export window.
Looking ahead, the data point to sustained expansion for the remainder of 2026. With the gold kiwifruit crop proving notably larger and early-season volumes already elevated, analysts anticipate that export values could maintain their upward trajectory through the peak months of April to June. Continued growth in shipments to the European Union and China, supported by stable market access and consumer preference for premium New Zealand fruit, is expected to lift full-year results above those of the previous season. Such trends would further strengthen the sector’s contribution to the national economy and reward the efforts of growers and exporters who have focused on high-value varieties.
Overall, the early success in 2026 underscores the resilience of New Zealand’s fruit industry and its capacity to capitalise on seasonal advantages in a competitive global marketplace.
