Zespri completes record kiwifruit season in New Zealand

The final Zespri charter vessel of the 2026 New Zealand kiwifruit season has departed the Port of Tauranga for China. On board the vessel Whero are over 1.7 million trays (6,120 tonnes) of Zespri SunGold kiwifruit bound for Shanghai. This sailing marked the company's 57th charter of the current season to transport a record harvest of approximately 225 million trays (810,000 tonnes) to markets worldwide. The final container shipments will leave New Zealand in the coming weeks.

Zespri Chief Executive Officer Jason Te Brake noted the contribution of growers, post-harvest workers, logistics partners, and the company's global network employees in delivering the large harvest to consumers in more than 50 countries. According to him, sales performed well in Europe and Northern Europe, while in Greater China the company noted strong demand during the Mid-Autumn Festival period. Demand for kiwifruit remained high due to the value of quality fruit for consumers and the support of the new global brand platform Grown for Good, despite a challenging trade environment and competition in the fruit category.

As the New Zealand season concludes, Zespri is shifting its focus to Northern Hemisphere production and preparation for the future harvest. The current season plans to supply approximately 36 million trays (129,000 tonnes) of kiwifruit from Northern Hemisphere growing regions, including 28 million trays of SunGold and 8 million trays of Green. As Jason Te Brake emphasized, ensuring year-round fruit supply in cooperation with Northern Hemisphere partners remains a vital element of the company's long-term strategy to maximize value for growers.