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Promote:Cook Islands

Export from the Cook Islands

A short guide for companies selling from the Cook Islands: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.

1. What the Cook Islands sells, and who buys it

Top goods exports

2025

  1. 1. Fresh or chilled fish
  2. 2. Pearls
  3. 3. Noni
  4. 4. Clothing
  • The principal-export table has no HS codes, so lines carry the Statistics Office's names; "Other exports", NZD 479 thousand or 2.1 percent, is not ranked. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • Fresh or chilled fish is 92.8 percent of 2025 exports, so shares and growth follow one line. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • Fishing license fees from foreign fleets are rent in the balance of payments, not exports, and are not in these tables. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • Values are in New Zealand dollars, as the Statistics Office publishes them, and are not converted to United States dollars. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Source: Cook Islands Statistics Office, overseas trade statistics, April 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

Where the goods go

2025, share of goods exports

  • Japan40.5%
  • Thailand27.3%
  • China10.3%
  • New Zealand9.7%
  • Australia2.9%
  • United States1.3%
  • Shares use the Statistics Office's revised 2025 total of NZD 23,222 thousand; "Other Countries", NZD 1,868 thousand or 8.0 percent, is a residual grouping and is not ranked. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • Japan is 40.5 percent of 2025 exports and Thailand 27.3 percent, so shares follow fish sales. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Source: Cook Islands Statistics Office, overseas trade statistics, April 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

  • Two lines, fish and pearls, are each at least 0.5 percent of 2025 exports, so the list is short; no line is added to fill it. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

2. What to look into next

Our reading

Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.

3. Trade agreements

What each arrangement can mean for a seller, and its limits. A preference is conditional: check the rules of origin before you quote.

  • PICTA

    Qualifying goods can enter other Forum island countries on preferential terms, and the Customs export clearance carries a Cook Islands Certificate of Origin.

    Covers goods only and excludes alcohol and tobacco; the date it took effect for the Cook Islands is not established here.

    Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, exporting page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

  • PACER Plus

    Goods exported for trade under PACER Plus need only a declaration of origin by the producer or exporter.

    The Cook Islands ratified on 14 October 2020; check each partner's tariff schedule and rules of origin before you quote.

    Source: PACER Plus Implementation Unit, Cook Islands page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

  • SPARTECA

    Australia and New Zealand give preferential duty rates to qualifying goods made in Forum island countries, the Cook Islands among them.

    Preference depends on meeting the agreement's rules of origin; confirm with the importing country's customs before you ship.

    Source: Australian Border Force, SPARTECA page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

  • Developing Countries Trading Scheme (United Kingdom)

    The scheme lists the Cook Islands under Enhanced Preferences, which gives duty relief on many goods entering the United Kingdom.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; tiers and product coverage can change, so check the current list.

    Source: GOV.UK, Developing Countries Trading Scheme preference tiers⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of June 19, 2023

Show 1 more agreement

  • Generalised Scheme of Tariff Preferences (European Union)

    From 1 January 2027, Regulation (EU) 2026/1395 lists the Cook Islands for standard GSP, which lowers European Union duties on many goods.

    Not eligible until 1 January 2027 (as of November 1, 2026); a rules-based preference, so check the text in force on your shipping date.

    Source: Regulation (EU) 2026/1395, generalised tariff preferences⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of June 22, 2026

4. Steps to export

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Exporting from the Cook Islands

  1. Get a tax number from the Revenue Management Division before you trade.Revenue Management Division, Ministry of Finance and Economic ManagementOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Business Trade and Investment Board, tax registration page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

  2. Engage an approved customs broker or customs declarant, who lodges the export entry for you.Cook Islands Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, exporting page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

  3. For fish, check the processor license and the export certificate that each consignment needs.Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of HealthOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Food (Fish Export Processing) Regulations 2006, Ministry of Health copy⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of May 2, 2006

  4. For plants and plant products, ask Biosecurity about a biosecurity export permit and a phytosanitary certificate.Ministry of Agriculture, Biosecurity DivisionOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Ministry of Agriculture, biosecurity page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

Show 2 more export steps
  1. Complete a Cook Islands Certificate of Origin for PICTA trade, or a declaration of origin for PACER Plus trade.Cook Islands Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, exporting page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

  2. Lodge the export entry through the online system before the goods leave, with the origin document.Cook Islands Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Ministry of Finance and Economic Management, exporting page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of November 1, 2026

5. Organizations that help exporters

Start with BTIB, Customs and Statistics Office. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Export development and market information

Show 3 more organizations

Customs and tax

Standards and sector requirements

Show 1 more organization

Chambers and industry associations

6. Worth knowing

7. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
  • Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

Turn this guide into your Cook Islands project.

Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.

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Promote:Cook Islands is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 1, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.