Trade balance with the US a saving grace
New Zealand is so far escaping the unpredictable vagaries of President Donald Trump's trade policies by the skin of its teeth.
In the report Australian & New Zealand Avocado Outlook 2022, the bank says the majority of New Zealand's avocado exports currently head to Australia. It adds that the development of other export markets will be essential to ensure sustainable growth opportunities for the country's producers as production climbs.
New Zealand's avocado production is forecast to grow by an average 6% annually for the next five years reaching 57,000 tonnes by 2026 - up from 44,0000 tonnes in 2021.
"We expect the majority of this production growth will come from the Northland and Bay of Plenty regions," says the report's author, Rabobank associate analyst Pia Piggott. "And while the general production trend will be in an upwards direction, we also anticipate this growth will be highly variable on an annual basis due to 'alternate bearing', which results in irregular crop loads from one season to the next."
The report says New Zealand is highly reliant on Australia as an export market for avocados with our trans-Tasman neighbours accounting for 79% of total New Zealand exports over the last five years.
"However, Australian supply has ramped up considerably of late - particularly in Western Australia - leading to a national oversupply, and it's essential that the New Zealand industry continues to grow its sales into other export markets that can pick up the slack when Australian import demand is lower."
Piggott says the New Zealand avocado industry has made significant progress growing sales to other markets in 2021, despite lower exports overall.
"New Zealand's total avocado exports by volume were back by 11% in 2021, in large part due to an oversupply of avocados in Australia and the resulting drop in sales into this market," she added.
"While exports to Australia fell, strong growth was recorded in other export markets with avocado sales to the rest of the world (excluding Australia) up by 154%."
This included improved export sales into Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. NZ exports made up 9%, 4% and 12% of total imports into those markets respectively. There was also strong export growth in China, Thailand, Taiwan and India.
Piggott says while recent sales growth into these markets was promising, further market diversification will be required by the New Zealand avocado industry over the years ahead.
"While New Zealand was less reliant on Australia in 2021, Australia still accounted for two-thirds of New Zealand avocado exports by volume," she explains.
"With Australian avocado production forecast to grow rapidly over the coming years, it's essential that the New Zealand industry continues to add new overseas markets and to expand the share of its avocado exports that are heading to other countries around the world."
