The free trade agreement signed between New Zealand and Malaysia will from next year remove a 15 per cent tariff paid on kiwifruit, says Zespri CEO Lain Jager.
"Kiwifruit is New Zealand's seventh largest export to Malaysia and the FTA signing is an exciting step towards strengthening NZ-Malaysia trade opportunities for Zespri and for New Zealand" says Lain.

'Sales have grown over 80 per cent in the past two years and next year we're aiming to sell over 1 million trays through our strong local distribution partners.”
Malaysia is one of Zespri's most important markets in South East Asia, with an annual turnover of $8 million.
Kiwifruit consumption is still relatively low in Malaysia, as it is not grown locally and has not traditionally been part of the diet.
The announcement of a Free Trade Agreement with Malaysia follows the signing earlier this year of an FTA between the South East Asian Nations, Australia and New Zealand (AANZFTA). Tariff reductions resulting from that agreement will also help grow Zespri markets in Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Kiwifruit is New Zealand's largest horticulture export and Zespri is the leading global marketer, with sales of over $1.45 billion in the 2008/09 season.
Zespri manages 30 per cent of internationally traded kiwifruit, and supplies over 60 countries.