WELLINGTON: kiwifruit and apples have led the increase in New Zealand’s fruit exports, which reached a record high of NZ$2bn (US$1.33bn) in the year ending June 2015, according to Statistics New Zealand.
Overall, the value of New Zealand’s fruit exports rose 20 per cent compared to the previous year, with a 9 per cent increase in volume.
The top three performers were kiwifruit, with exports rising 59 per cent in terms of value, apples (28 per cent) and avocados (5.7 per cent); all three of which accounted for 92 per cent of New Zealand’s total fruit exports in terms of value.
More than a quarter was exported to the European Union in the 2015 financial year, followed by Japan (14 per cent) and China (13 per cent).
May was the record year for exports, hitting NZ$445m, with June and April coming in second and third highest, respectively.
