Last kiwifruit ship to China

The last reefer kiwifruit ship to Japan and China leaves the Port of Tauranga today, bringing to an end what has been a stellar season in China for marketer Zespri.

Simon Limmer, Zespri's Chief Operating Officer says the Asian Adonis vessel is the last of eight charter reefer ships making deliveries to China – up from three ships in 2014.

The Asian Adonis, pictured today at the Port of Tauranga, is due to sail for Japan and China. Photos: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media Services.

Despite the fact it is the original home of kiwifruit, and produces significant volumes of its own, China is a great success story for the New Zealand industry, with Zespri sales up around 40 per cent this season.

China is currently harvesting its own kiwifruit, and it will be around three weeks before the Asian Adonis reaches that market, but Simon expects the fruit on board to be in demand by consumers.

'Zespri is the third most recognised fruit brand in China and has a reputation for safe, high tasting fruit,” he says.

'Consumers in China are very discerning and New Zealand has a good reputation there.”

On its way to China, the Asian Adonis will visit Japan, a market which continues to yield Zespri's highest returns in dollar terms.

'Japan is still a high value market and Zespri has enjoyed a sensational year there,” says Simon.

'However, the biggest headwind we experience is the exchange rate between the Yen and the NZ dollar, with the NZ dollar weakening. It is fortunate we have China in the background.”

Zespri's diverse markets, including Europe, South East Asia, North America and the Middle East, means it is not reliant on the performance of a few key markets.

The New Zealand kiwifruit industry's production is back to pre-Psa levels for both green and gold, which is an achievement that would have been difficult to predict when the industry was hit by the vine disease in 2010, says Simon.

To cope with the increase in crops, Zespri has chartered 60 refrigerated reefer ships this season, up from 51 last season, as well as more than 9000 refrigerated containers to deliver fruit to its world-wide markets.

Those vessel numbers are also set to increase.

'We are expecting gold volumes to nearly double in the next four years,” Simon says.

'This coming season we're forecasting volumes about 25 per cent up on the previous season and we're looking at nearly $2 billion in sales.”

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