Exports from the country's Primary Industries (agriculture) have reached record levels this year; the pig and poultry sectors are growing slowly and are small compared with the dairy, red meat and wool industries.
Primary Industries Minister, Nathan Guy, says new figures show primary sector exports will reach record levels of NZ$37.7 billion over the last year - around $1.3 billion more than previously forecast.
Mr Guy was speaking at the release of the Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries 2014 (SOPI 2014) - an annual publication that provides a snapshot and forecast for our major primary sectors over the next four years.
Mr Guy commented: “SOPI 2014 reveals export prices increased across most sectors for the year ending June 2014. Both dairy and forestry sectors stood out with good increases in both price and production.
“Dairy now accounts for 46 per cent of total primary industry export value and 35 per cent of total New Zealand merchandise export value. High price levels for dairy were underpinned by robust demand from China, which remains an important market for dairy, meat and wool, seafood and logs.
“Meat and wool exports have broken $8 billion, which is fantastic considering last year’s drought. Exports are expected to increase by around 22 per cent for the five years to 2018.
“Export earnings for the New Zealand seafood industry are expected to increase to $1.64 billion in 2018, with prices likely to remain high due to strong demand from China, Australia, US and the EU.
“This results are helped by programmes such as the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP), Sustainable Farming Fund, and the Irrigation Acceleration Fund which all deliver long-term value to the sector, and the New Zealand economy.
“This report makes great reading for New Zealand’s primary industries as it enters the 2014/15 year, and I’m anticipating positive vibes at this week’s Mystery Creek National Fieldays,” added Mr Guy.
Poultry and Pig Sectors
New Zealand's poultry and pig meat sectors are minor compared to its dairy, red meat and wool industries but they show a slow upward trend in terms of the value of their output.
