Browse Data and Analysis

FAS/Wellington forecasts 2018 beef production to be significantly higher at 670,000 metric tons (MT), which is expected to increase exports to 603,000 MT.

New Zealand is a large group of islands in the south Pacific and belongs to the large island trading bloc of Australia and New Zealand.

In 2017/2018, deciduous fruit production is estimated at 574,200 metric tons, a seven percent jump over 2016/2017.

Despite a 0.8 percent lower milk supply forecast for 2018, total exports are expected to increase by 2.8 percent to 3.3 million metric tons.

New Zealand’s economy is highly dependent on the agricultural and export sectors.

Overall animal feed demand is expected to continue to grow as the New Zealand’s dairy, poultry and other livestock sectors continue to expand.

Despite abnormal weather patterns during October 2017 through January 2018, New Zealand milk production and exports are unlikely to be adversely affected.

New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules for plant and animal products but also imports large volumes of food and beverage products.

There have been no recent significant official changes to the heavily regulated and cautious policies put in place by the Government of New Zealand (GONZ) for genetically engineered (GE) products.

The 2016/2017 New Zealand deciduous fruit production dipped lower than anticipated to 554,940 metric tons, 1.4 percent less than 2015/2016.

Wet and cold Spring weather has thwarted the anticipated 3 percent rebound in 2017 milk production.

New Zealand total cattle numbers continue to increase and are forecast to reach 10.38 million head by 2018, up by 1.2 percent from 10.26 million head in 2017.