Bumper kiwifruit crop breaks records

A bumper kiwifruit crop has broken records. Photo/file

Kiwifruit exports rose $105 million in June this year to reach $331m.

The increase was up 47 percent, with goods exports rising $109 million (2.6 percent) in June 2016 (to $4.3 billion).

Figures released from Statistics New Zealand today show the June 2016 rise was across all our top kiwifruit export destinations, but particularly Japan (up $55 million) and China (up $39 million). The quantities of kiwifruit exported also rose (up 32 percent), with gold kiwifruit up 49 percent, and green kiwifruit up 21 percent.

"Export values of kiwifruit for the months of May and June 2016 are the two highest on record," international statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said.

"Annual kiwifruit exports for the June 2016 year also set a new record - $1.7 billion - up 41 percent from the previous June year."

Annual exports of all fruit were up $617 million (31 percent) for the June 2016 year. Apples also contributed to the rise, up $130 million (23 percent).

The rise in fruit exports eclipsed other rises in export commodities for the June 2016 year, including forestry products (up $250 million), and meat products (up $237 million).

The rise in fruit also helped to offset a fall in annual exports of milk powder, butter, and cheese (down $875 million). Within these dairy exports there were contrasting movements; milk powder was down $1.1 billion (16 percent), with little change in the quantity exported. In contrast, the values and quantities of butter, cheese, and fresh milk and cream exported were all up in the year ended June 2016.