Annual fruit exports hit $2 billion for first time
Annual fruit exports hit $2 billion for first time
27 July 2015
The annual value of fruit exports reached an all-time high of $2 billion in the year ended June 2015, Statistics New Zealand said today.
The value of fruit exported rose 20 percent (up $330 million) for the June 2015 year when compared with the year ended June 2014. Both higher prices and a greater quantity of exports (up 9.0 percent) contributed to the overall rise.
“Record monthly fruit exports in April, May, and June 2015 led to an all-time high for the year ended June,” international statistics manager Jason Attewell said.
Fruit exports in May 2015 had the highest-ever value for a month (at $445 million). June and April exports were the second- and third-highest, respectively.
Kiwifruit and apples led the monthly increases, with exports in May 2015 being the highest value recorded for both kiwifruit ($280 million) and apples ($157 million).
These increases occurred despite a 5.3 percent fall in the canopy area of kiwifruit, and a 4.8 percent fall in the area planted in apples, between 2012 and 2014.
See Agricultural Production Statistics: June 2014 (final) for more details.
Kiwifruit (59 percent), apples (28 percent), and avocados (5.7 percent) made up 92 percent of the value of total fruit exports for the June 2015 year. Over one-quarter of our fruit exports went to the European Union (27 percent). Japan (14 percent) and China (13 percent) were other top destinations in the June 2015 year.
For more information about these statistics:
• Visit Overseas Merchandise Trade: June 2015
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