New Zealand’s Cherry Exports Set New Records in 2024/25

According to a recent media report, New Zealand’s cherry exports in the 2024/25 season (year ending February 2025) surpassed 5,070 metric tons, representing a 33% increase from the previous season. This marks the highest export volume on record, far exceeding the 4,020 metric tons registered in the 2017/18 season.

Cherries generated NZ$124 million (US$71.9 million) in export revenue, setting another all-time high. This also marks the first time that New Zealand’s cherry exports have surpassed NZ$100 million (US$58.0 million). Currently, the country’s cherry export volume is nearly six times what it was 20 years ago, while the export revenue has grown almost 12-fold.

Despite the surge in production, New Zealand cherries have maintained high prices. Over the past 20 years, their export price has more than doubled, rising from NZ$11.92 (US$6.91) per kilogram in 2005 to NZ$24.44 (US$14.17) per kilogram in 2025.

Compared with the previous season, despite a 33% increase in export volume, prices have inched up slightly, reflecting strong demand from key markets. Because expanding cherry cultivation requires a long development cycle, New Zealand’s export volume remains more influenced by supply than demand over the short term.

In the 2024/25 season, Asian markets remained the top destination for New Zealand’s cherry exports, accounting for 95.7% of total shipments, with China alone comprising a remarkable 67.8%. Of the cherries exported to China, approximately 2,343 metric tons were sent to Taiwan, while around 759 metric tons went to mainland China and 345 metric tons went to Hong Kong.

During the same period, New Zealand’s cherry exports to the United States totaled 144 metric tons, accounting for 2.8% of total exports, up from 1.7% in the previous season. The U.S. market remains unpredictable and challenging — despite this season’s growth, exports to the United States are still below levels seen in earlier seasons.

Although Middle Eastern markets hold a relatively small share, they have experienced strong growth. In the 2024/25 season, the United Arab Emirates imported approximately 61 metric tons of New Zealand cherries, accounting for 1.2% of total exports — more than triple the volume of the previous season. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia imported around 26 metric tons, marking a significant increase from zero imports last season. The country’s previous record high was just 2.5 metric tons in the 2022/23 season.

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.