NZ food & fibre exports to reach record $62b by 2026
New Zealand's primary sector is set to reach a record $62 billion in food and fibre exports next year.
Export revenue from New Zealand's food and fibre sector is expected to reach a record $52.2 billion in the year to June 30, 2022.
Dairy export revenue is on track to reach a record high of $21.6 billion, 13% higher than the previous year.
Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor says the latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) report, released last week, shows that this will be the first time we've hit more than $50 billion in food and fibre exports, an increase of almost 10% on the previous year.
"This is a tremendous result for the sector as farmers, growers and others in the supply chains who play such a critical role in our economy.
"They have continued to deliver quality products for Kiwis and overseas consumers while navigating global disruption and uncertainty.
"Our markets abroad are demanding high-quality products that are made with care, and this report indicates our exporters are responding to these market signals.
"To that end, the Government is investing to support farmers and growers to deliver food and fibre with low emissions and high sustainablity, which will provide us economic security."
Damien O'Connor said the SOPI, released by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), forecast significant growth across the majority of our food and fibre exports.
New Zealand's diverse cheesemaking talent shone brightly last night as the New Zealand Specialist Cheesemakers Association (NZSCA) crowned the champions of the 2026 New Zealand Cheese Awards.
Tracing has indicated that the source of the first velvetleaf find of the 2025-26 crop season, in Auckland, was likely maize purchased in the Waikato region.
Fish & Game New Zealand has announced its election priorities in its Manifesto 2026.
With the forage maize harvest started in Northland and the Waikato, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is telling growers of later crops, or those further south, to start checking their maize crop maturity about three weeks prior to when they think they will start silage harvesting.
Irrigation NZ is warning that the government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform risks falling short of its objectives unless water use for food production and water storage infrastructure are clearly recognised in the goals at the top of the new system.
More than five million trays, or 18,000 tonnes, of Zespri’s RubyRed Kiwifruit will soon be available for consumers across 16 markets this season.
OPINION: The good news keeps getting better for NZ dairy farmers.
OPINION: With export of livestock by sea dead in the water, opponents of the Gene Technology Bill think they can…