But a recent report by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) predicts that the Chinese market will recover later this year - a view backed up by major exporters. It would also seem that the recent NZ trade mission to China has breathed new optimism into the market.
Speaking at the recent Federated Farmers annual conference, the Minister Counsellor Trade for the Chinese Embassy in NZ, Chen Zhiyang, spoke positively about the recent trade mission saying the outcomes were good news for NZ farmers and Chinese consumers. He went on to say that there is potential for expansion and cooperation in the area of primary products.
"NZ products, especially primary products, are very popular in the China market because they have the reputation of being 100% pure and of very high quality," he says.
Zhiyang says trade had brought tangible benefits between the two countries.
Meanwhile, PM Chris Hipkins discussed his recent trade mission to China and was clearly ecstatic about the way the trip had gone. He said relations between the two countries were excellent and - most importantly - the business-to-business relationship is thriving and has the potential to grow even more.
Hipkins says there are 1.4 billion consumers in China and one of their government's objectives is to double the number of middle-income earners over the next decade meaning more consumers looking for the quality produce and products NZ has to offer.
"There is nothing quite like going into a supermarket somewhere in the world, such as China, and seeing so many NZ products on display - whether it is kiwifruit or beef or lamb or some of the manufactured products. It was a bit of a buzz for me as the Prime Minister."
Hipkins says one take-home message for him was the importance of NZ's clean, green, sustainable reputation when it comes to growing our export market share. He says our international reputation is critical to continuing to expand our export opportunities.
