Export applications soar after slow period

Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce reports a major increase in export applications this year.

Chamber CEO Murray Douglas said two staff were working full-time processing the applications "which is most unusual".

"We think this reflects the recovery in the commodity sector," he said.

Free trade agreement certificates were up, with 309 being approved this year, compared to 259 in the same three month period last year.

Port of Napier has also experienced an increase in exports. Throughput rose to 3.64 million tonnes in the year to September 2011, from 3.42 million tonnes to the end of September 2010 and 2.89 million tonnes in 2009.

Log exports stood at 1.04 million tonnes to the end of September 2011 compared to 889,000 tonnes a year earlier.

Dairy increased to 202,000 tonnes in the 2011 financial year, compared with 177,000 tonnes in the prior year.

Port of Napier chief executive Garth Cowie has said local investments would ensure strong export figures for the port, such as Pan Pac's $70 million upgrade to make higher-grade products, the Heinz move of 35,000 tonnes of production from Australia to Hastings, McCain's $19 million processing upgrade, the new Etika UHT plant in Whakatu and Ravensdown's upgraded fertiliser acid plant.

"Those investments alone over the next two or three years will see our growth continue," he said.

Mr Douglas said a swing to electronic export certificates of New Zealand Origin has seen 259 e-certs processed, compared to 30 for the same period last year.

The new technology was more efficient for exporters, allowing for approvals to be processed and returned within a few hours, he said.

"The current postal system includes courier costs for the individual exporter and it's much more time-consuming, so the new internet technology is definitely the way forward."

The chamber provides an export documentation service, including Certificates of Origin, that attesting goods have been produced, manufactured or processed in New Zealand.

Businesses can access export documentation at www.hawkesbaychamber.co.nz.