Seafood exports from New Zealand reached a record high of NZD 1.7 billion (USD 1.2 billion, EUR 1 billion) in the 12 months up to 31 March 2016, with a strong acceleration of growth in the first-quarter of this year.
“This is an 11.4 percent increase on the previous year and an NZD 80 million (USD 54.7 million, EUR 47.9 million) increase on the previous high of NZD 1.6 billion (USD 1.1 billion, EUR 957.5 million) for the 2015 calendar year,” said Tim Pankhurst, chief executive of Seafood New Zealand. “Month-on-month growth of 18 percent in January over the previous year was even higher at 23 percent in March.”
The strongest value growth is from exports of frozen finfish with rock lobster, orange roughy, fishmeal and mussels also returning increased prices.
China accounted for nearly one-third of the total seafood export value. The country’s demand, particularly around its New Year, cemented rock lobster as New Zealand’s most lucrative export species with sales of NZD 305 million (USD 208.6 million, EUR 182.5 million) in 2015. The mussel trade followed at NZD 224 million (USD 153.2 million, EUR 134 million), and then hoki at NZD 209 million (USD 143 million, EUR 125.1 million).
The second most valuable market behind China was Australia, followed by the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Spain, France, Germany and Thailand.
According to Seafood New Zealand, exports of half-shell Greenshell mussels have continued to increase this year with per kg returns up nine percent. Meanwhile, the first major exports of squid for the 2015-16 season were shipped in March and are well ahead of the previous year’s total.
Furthermore, the orange roughy market in China has grown from virtually nothing several years ago to NZD 26 million (USD 17.8 million, EUR 15.6 million) in 2015, overtaking the United States, said Pankhurst.
“The fact a wide variety of species across a range of markets are in demand and consequently attracting increased returns bodes well for the medium- and long-term outlook for the seafood sector. This is underpinned by a well-managed wild fishery and an expanding aquaculture sector.
“Discerning consumers around the world are increasingly looking for high quality, sustainably harvested seafood and are prepared to pay a premium for that.
“The complementary domestic market continues to be important as well. Around 88 percent of Kiwis, those who don’t catch their own, continue to rely on our wild fishery and aquaculture enterprises for their seafood,” said Pankhurst.
