NZ Red Meat Outlook 2026: Growth amid trade uncertainty
While things are looking positive for the red meat sector in 2026, volatility in global trade remains a concern, says the Meat Industry Association (MIA).
B+LNZ and the MIA say farmers, processors, exporters and our economy will benefit from greater export revenue once the FTA is signed and ratified. They say the red meat sector has not had quota free access to the British market since the UK joined the EU in 1973.
B+LNZ’s Sam McIvor says the AIP builds upon the strong trade links between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
“This allows British consumers access to best in-season products all year around, particularly during busy periods such as Easter and Christmas, which fall during the UK’s off-season meat production window. We are ideal trade partners with British consumers having high expectations for the quality and ethics behind their food.”
Sirma Karapeeva, MIA chief executive, says the FTA will allow New Zealand companies the opportunity to sell a wider range of high-quality products into the UK market, particularly beef. She says following the UK leaving the EU, NZ’s 1300 tonne beef quota was split between the UK and the EU, leaving New Zealand with only 454 tonnes of beef access into the UK.
“Outside of this quota, NZ beef exports attracted tariffs of up to 70%, meaning virtually no-out-of-quota trade occurred. Improved access will allow companies to deepen and expand relationships, and crucially, compete on a level playing field with our international competitors,” she says.
News of the agreement is positive for horticulture and consumers according to the NZ Horticulture Export Authority CEO, Simon Hegarty.
He says the AIP provides a welcome lift against the current backdrop of significant challenges in exporting perishable products. Hegarty says NZ has very few tariffs remaining on food products so it is appropriate and equitable that our products entering the UK will not be taxed unnecessarily in the future.
“The removal of this distortion will be good for both the NZ export industry and the UK consumers by enabling better access for healthy food products.
“The removal of tariffs on trade with UK will provide an estimated benefit of approximately NZ$5m annually to NZ.”
Hegarty says that while our horticulture trade with the UK is dominated by apples and then onions, a range of lesser-known products – such as apricots and frozen berries – will also stand to benefit from the FTA.
The Executive Director of NZ International Business Forum (NZIBF) welcomed the news saying it will help lift the spirits of exporters. Stephen Jacobi, who’s a former trade negotiator, says it is clearly a substantial and comprehensive deal, with commercially meaningful market access across NZ’s key export sectors, including dairy, meat, horticulture and wine.
“The FTA would also position the UK well for future membership of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
“A strong outcome from the FTA negotiations, which is now within reach, is what is needed for NZ to confirm its wholehearted support for UK accession,” he says.
