Browse Data and Analysis

The Covid-19 pandemic had a major effect on the Hotel, Restaurant, Institutional (HRI) sector in New Zealand. This is especially true of the tourism and hospitality sectors which have been severely hit by the closed international borders.

New Zealand is expected to have already reached “peak” cattle numbers, and FAS/Wellington anticipates a very gradual decline in both dairy and beef cow numbers in the near future. One of the major influences on this is New Zealand governmental policy, and in particular regulations regarding livestock exclusion around certain water sources, as well as proposed pricing of agricultural emissions.

This report lists the major export certificates and other documentation required by the Government of New Zealand for U.S. exporters and food and agricultural products. New Zealand’s import requirements for food and agricultural products are complex and change frequently.

New Zealand has strict biosecurity rules for plant and animal products but also imports large volumes of food and beverage products. This report outlines regulatory requirements for food and agricultural products exported to New Zealand. Key recent changes include regulations relating to organic foods, as well as the introduction of country-of-origin labeling for some products.

Recently, the New Zealand Primary Sector Climate Action Partnership – He Waka Eke Noa (HWEN) – delivered their recommendations on an alternative agricultural emissions solution to the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). In its report, HWEN outlined various recommendations which center around a farm-level split gas levy on emissions.

U.S. food and agricultural products have continued to prove popular in the New Zealand market, and in 2021 the value of these products was a record US$ 625 million, US$ 425 million of which were consumer-oriented products. The New Zealand grocery and food retail sector has seen resiliency during COVID-19 and continued strong demand.

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.