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Promote:New Zealand

Export from New Zealand

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

1. What New Zealand sells, and who buys it

Top goods exports

2025

  1. 1. Milk powder and concentrated milk (HS 0402)US$6.59 billion
  2. 2. Butter and milk fats (HS 0405)US$3.52 billion
  3. 3. Lamb and mutton (HS 0204)US$2.72 billion
  4. 4. Kiwifruit, berries and other fresh fruit (HS 0810)US$2.63 billion
  5. 5. Frozen beef (HS 0202)US$2.42 billion
  6. 6. Cheese and curd (HS 0406)US$2.01 billion
  7. 7. Logs (HS 4403)US$1.95 billion
  8. 8. Infant formula and other malt, flour and milk preparations (HS 1901)US$1.53 billion
Show 12 more products
  1. 9. Wine (HS 2204)US$1.26 billion
  2. 10. Fresh milk and cream (HS 0401)US$1.1 billion
  3. 11. Gold (HS 7108)US$1.07 billion
  4. 12. Aluminum, unwrought (HS 7601)US$825.7 million
  5. 13. Casein (HS 3501)US$813.2 million
  6. 14. Other food preparations (HS 2106)US$748.6 million
  7. 15. Apples and pears (HS 0808)US$735.9 million
  8. 16. Whey (HS 0404)US$724.3 million
  9. 17. Sawn wood (HS 4407)US$670.3 million
  10. 18. Therapy and respiration appliances (HS 9019)US$517.1 million
  11. 19. Fresh or chilled beef (HS 0201)US$479.8 million
  12. 20. Crude oil (HS 2709)US$381.8 million

Source: UN Comtrade, New Zealand exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

Where the goods go

2025, share of goods exports

  • China24.8%
  • Australia12.6%
  • United States11.6%
  • Japan5%
  • South Korea3.3%
  • United Kingdom2.6%
  • Other Asia, not elsewhere specified2.4%
  • Indonesia2.2%

Source: UN Comtrade, New Zealand exports by destination, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

2. What to look into next

Our reading

  • The research marks lamb and mutton, kiwifruit, berries and other fresh fruit and cheese and curd as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only New Zealand’s top destinations overall.

    Source: UN Comtrade, New Zealand exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

    Based on: Top goods exports

  • Lamb and mutton grew 25% from 2024 to 2025; kiwifruit, berries and other fresh fruit grew 23% from 2024 to 2025. A growing line can mean buyers are looking for more; confirm it with that line’s buyers before you plan around it.

    Source: UN Comtrade, New Zealand exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

    Based on: Top goods exports, against the year before

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.

  • Australia New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER)

    Covers trade in goods and services between New Zealand and Australia.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; claim it only for goods that meet its origin rules.

    Source: MFAT, New Zealand-Australia Closer Economic Relations⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

    Reduces tariffs on qualifying New Zealand goods sold to the other economies that apply the agreement.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; claim it only for goods that meet its origin rules.

    Source: MFAT, CPTPP agreement page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

    Covers qualifying New Zealand goods sold to the other members; Customs says proof of origin depends on the destination.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; most destinations need a certificate or approved-exporter status.

    Source: MFAT, RCEP agreement page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA)

    Covers qualifying New Zealand goods sold to Southeast Asian members and Australia.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; Customs requires a certificate of origin or approved-exporter status.

    Source: MFAT, AANZFTA agreement page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

Show 12 more agreements

4. Steps to export

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

Exporting from New Zealand

  1. Apply for a client code, needed for shipments worth NZ$1,000 or more or needing a permit.New Zealand Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, client codes⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  2. Register with the Ministry for Primary Industries to export animal products, and with the New Zealand Meat Board for meat.Ministry for Primary IndustriesOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, export prohibitions and restrictions⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of July 25, 2025

  3. Check whether your goods are prohibited or need a permit or approval; Customs lists the issuing authority for each.New Zealand Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, export prohibitions and restrictions⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of July 25, 2025

  4. Check whether your goods are on the Strategic Goods List and need a permit.Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeApplying for a permit is free.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: MFAT, how to apply for an export permit⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

Show 9 more export steps
  1. Screen buyers, end users and destinations against the Russia sanctions register before you ship.Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: MFAT, Russia sanctions information for exporters⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  2. Get proof of origin: a Certificate of Origin from an authorized issuing body or, once approved, a self-declaration.New Zealand Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, start exporting, updated August 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of August 11, 2025

  3. Check the standards and technical rules your buyer's market applies; Standards New Zealand sells New Zealand and international standards.Standards New ZealandOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Standards New Zealand, home page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  4. Ask the Ministry for Primary Industries which export rules apply to your food or primary product; it sets and enforces them.Ministry for Primary IndustriesOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Business.govt.nz, exporting process and support⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of February 23, 2026

  5. Lodge an export entry, or a Cargo Report Export for goods under NZ$1,000, in Trade Single Window, or hire a customs agent.New Zealand Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, clear your exports⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  6. Pay the goods levy on each export.New Zealand Customs ServiceFrom April 1, 2026: NZ$3.35 by air and NZ$8.13 by sea, excluding GST.Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, goods levies effective April 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of July 18, 2025

  7. Charge GST at zero percent on goods you export, if they leave New Zealand within 28 days of supply.Inland RevenueOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Inland Revenue, zero-rated supplies, updated June 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of June 22, 2026

  8. Claim a drawback of duty or GST paid on imported goods that you later export.New Zealand Customs ServiceOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: New Zealand Customs, export payments and drawbacks⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  9. Ask NZTE about export advice and co-funding for new markets.New Zealand Trade and EnterpriseOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: NZTE, export support services⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

5. Organizations that help exporters

Start with NZTE and Customs. 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

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 New Zealand project.

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

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Promote:New Zealand 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 October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.