New Zealand Exports Defy Toughest Trading Climate on Record

Defying what an ExportNZ survey calls the “toughest trading conditions on record,” New Zealand’s exporters are pulling off a remarkable balancing act: absorbing heavy financial hits to keep their global sales climbing.

The report, released Wednesday, reveals a deepening obstacle course of geopolitical friction, unpredictable tariffs, and soaring freight fees—with every measured trade barrier worsening over the past year. Yet, rather than retreating, Kiwi businesses are holding the line. To shield long-term customer relationships and safeguard competitive pricing, 45 percent of firms are swallowing the extra shipping costs themselves, while a mere 9 percent are passing the full bill onto overseas buyers.

This strategic sacrifice is driving undeniable results. Even in a hostile economic climate, 45 percent of companies successfully grew their exports over the last 12 months.

A sense of “cautious optimism” now defines the sector, notes ExportNZ Executive Director Joshua Tan, as 57 percent of businesses forecast further expansion in the year ahead. Echoing this sentiment, BusinessNZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich highlighted the industry’s fierce resilience, pointing to ambitious exporters who are actively securing new footholds across India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.