Browse Data and Analysis

In May 2022 the New Zealand (NZ) Government released their First Emission Reduction Plan (ERP). The ERP outlines the proposed focus points and actions as required by the climate change response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act of 2019.

New Zealand milk production is forecast to fall in 2022 as a result of continued dry conditions in key producing areas, high feed prices, a smaller dairy herd, and continued labor shortages.

New Zealand’s apple production and exports are forecast to rise in marketing year 2021/22

Despite being a small country, New Zealand is a major exporter of food and beverage products, and many of these products are manufactured in-country requiring inputs imported from other suppliers. The United States is a key source of ingredients including pork, lactose, tree nuts, hops and other products. The United States also supplies ingredients for animal feed.

After two straight years of reaching record levels, New Zealand beef production and exports are expected to fall slightly in 2022. This decline is a result of expected reduced steer and heifer slaughter, as calf retentions in 2019 boosted last year’s slaughter number. As the size of New Zealand’s cattle herd is relatively steady, slaughter numbers are expected to return to more typical levels this year.

New Zealand is an important market in the Pacific for U.S. agricultural products. In 2020, despite logistical and other challenges as a result of COVID-19, New Zealand’s imports continued strong and included US$ 575 million of U.S. agricultural products.

Biosafety regulatory efforts in the Caribbean remain stalled, and it is yet to be seen whether countries can regain the will and secure the international financing required to fully implement their National Biosafety Frameworks in a harmonized manner.

There have been no recent significant official changes to the genetically engineered (GE) policies established by the New Zealand government.

The same problems that beset apple production in 2020/2021, especially harvest labor shortages, could persist into 2021/2022.

Following an exceptional milk production year in 2021 (and especially the first half of the year), FAS/Wellington is forecasting milk production to fall slightly in 2022.

Although New Zealand has been less impacted by COVID-19 than most countries around the world, it has still had a major effect on the Hotel, Restaurant, Institutional (HRI) sector.

Eager to put the COVID-19 pandemic behind it, the Caribbean is doing all it can to attract visitors and kick-start its tourism sector in 2021.