New Zealand Food And Fibre Exports On Track To Break New Records
The numbers speak for themselves, but the Government remains laser-focused on doubling the value of exports in 10 years, driving higher farm & forest gate returns, and backing the long-term capability, resilience, and health of rural New Zealand, …
Minister of Agriculture
Minister of Forestry
Farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and primary processors are driving New Zealand's economic recovery with export revenue on track to surpass $60 billion for the first time, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced today at Fieldays.
'The latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report forecasts export earnings of $59.9 billion for the year ending 30 June 2025, $3 billion higher than projected in December. This momentum is expected to continue, with exports reaching $65.7 billion by 2029,' Mr McClay says.
'These figures reflect the hard work and resilience of the hard working men and women of provincial New Zealand.
'Strong global demand and healthy prices across key markets are positioning our high-quality, safe and sustainable food and fibre exports for record growth.'
Growth highlights include:
dairy export revenue lifting 16 per cent to reach a record $27 billion
meat and wool export revenue increasing 8 per cent to $12.3 billion
horticulture export revenue growing by an impressive 19 per cent reaching $8.5 billion
forestry export revenue jumping 9 per cent to $6.3 billion
Seafood export revenue lifting 2 per cent to $2.2 billion.
'The numbers speak for themselves, but the Government remains laser-focused on doubling the value of exports in 10 years, driving higher farm and forest gate returns, and backing the long-term capability, resilience, and health of rural New Zealand,' Mr McClay says.
'We're investing heavily to deliver tools and technology to farmers and growers to tackle agricultural emissions with more than $400 million in continuing funding over the next four years and making targeted reforms to support farmer and grower success.
'Through the Budget, we launched the new $246 million Primary Sector Growth Fund (PSGF) to boost on-farm productivity and resilience.
'Our trade work continues at pace to open doors for Kiwi exporters, and our new Investment Boost tax incentive will encourage businesses to invest, be more competitive, grow the economy, and lift wages.
'When rural New Zealand does well, the whole country benefits,' Mr McClay says.
'That's why we're making sure our Primary Sector have the tools and support they need to deliver long-term economic growth and regional prosperity for all New Zealanders.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
11 hours ago
- Scoop
UAE Deal Passes, Unlocking $500 Billion Market
Minister for Trade and Investment Minister of Agriculture The NZ-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) legislation has passed into law today, clearing the way for Kiwi exporters to tap into a $500 billion market that imports 90 per cent of its food, Agriculture, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay announced. 'The NZ-UAE CEPA delivers real benefits for New Zealand exporters, lowering costs, increasing access, and securing a stronger presence in the Middle East,' Mr McClay says. This is the highest-quality, and fastest, agreement negotiated by New Zealand that will immediately remove tariffs on 98.5 per cent of New Zealand's exports upon entry to force, rising to 99 per cent in three years. 'This high-quality trade agreement builds on New Zealand's strengths. UAE consumers are actively seeking safe, fresh products from around the world and are willing to pay more for them. This agreement gives New Zealand exporters an opportunity to lead in this competitive market,' Mr McClay says. Two-way trade between New Zealand and the UAE was worth $1.35 billion last year, and the CEPA will accelerate growth by reducing red tape, boosting services trade, and supporting investment links. 'Trade agreements are about opening doors and levelling the playing field for New Zealand exporters,' Mr McClay says. 'The CEPA is another step toward achieving the Government's goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years. Growing our trade relationships helps boost the economy, lift incomes, and provide the public services Kiwis deserve.' The CEPA will enter into force following ratification procedures by both parties.
Newsroom
11 hours ago
- Newsroom
‘A bit rich' for Govt to castigate councils for above-inflation revenue increases
Analysis: Local authorities are rightly being held to account for rates rises that are above inflation – indeed, far above inflation. From the Prime Minister's opening video address onwards, a succession of Government ministers berated the mayors and councillors at last week's Local Government NZ conference in Christchurch. And this week, Stats NZ published the latest consumers price index figures, showing that while headline inflation had gone up just 2.7 percent in the 12 months to June 30, local authority rates and payments had gone up 12.2 percent.
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- RNZ News
Dropping livestock numbers dominate red meat sector event
File photo. Photo: 123rf New Zealand red meat exports earned an extra $1.2 billion this year, due to good livestock pricing and tighter supplies. But the country's $10 billion red meat sector has raised the alarm that it was struggling to get the numbers of livestock through the meat works it needed to feed hungry international consumers. More than 300 red meat producers, processors and marketers gathered in Ōtautahi for the Red Meat Sector Conference on Tuesday. While import tariffs into key market the United States and subdued consumer demand in China were top of the agenda, the surity of livestock supply underpinned the sector's concerns for a resilient future. The latest figures from StatsNZ showed the national sheep flock and deer herd were continuing to decline. Industry group Beef and Lamb New Zealand's chairperson Kate Acland told the event, carbon farming on productive land under the Emissions Trading Scheme was driving the significant reduction in livestock numbers. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay speaking at the Red Meat Sector Conference in Christchurch on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ/Monique Steele "New Zealand currently faces over-capacity in the processing industry," she said. "We have more plants and more processing lines than we have livestock to sustain them efficiently and it risks getting worse. "The drop in stock numbers represents a lost opportunity. We owe it to farmers to face this challenge head on." She said greater collaboration among competing companies was a sensible strategic approach. "If we want a future-fit industry, we need to be bold about optimising capacity and about how we collaborate," she said. "The fall in stock numbers is particularly frustrating because at a time when there's strong demand globally and high export prices, our processors have not been able to capitalise on this. "Our exports would have been hundreds of millions higher if the supply had been there." The conference came during a time when the country's only farmer-owned red meat co-operative Alliance Group was preparing a case of private investment for its farmer-shareholders to vote on in the coming months. Alliance announced the decision to shut its historic Smithfield meat plant in Timaru in October, amid dropping livestock numbers, particularly breeding ewes, with 600 people losing their jobs. Farmers were getting record prices for beef, however they were driven in part by good demand amid tighter supplies. File photo. Photo:/File via CNN Newsource Furthermore, New Zealand imported a near-record volume of beef from Australia in June, as processors worked to secure greater volumes to match meat plant capacity. Meanwhile, Todd McClay, Minister for Agriculture and Trade and Investment, said the Government was working to "get Wellington out of farming" to enable primary sector growth, and bring value back to the farmgate. "We want to reduce regulation and cost on farm," he said. "I reckon it's a great time to be a farmer in New Zealand at the moment. "As there are challenges fronting up around the world, geopolitics, tariffs, protectionism, and so on, the world still needs high quality, safe food. "And you don't get higher quality of safer food anywhere in the world with a wonderful carbon footprint story to tell." He said the government invested in the $8 million Taste Pure Natire campaign with industry to strengthen red meat's position in China, to drive better returns for farmers and processors. StatsNZ figures showing sheep numbers dropped three percent in 2024 to 23.6 million sheep, while deer numbers dropped 4 percent between 2023 and 2024 to 709,000. However, the beef boom has kept stock numbers relatively stable rising one percent in the last year to 3.7 million beef cattle. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
