Business · India Bureau
New Zealand kiwifruit exports poised for record high in 2025-26
New Zealand's kiwifruit industry is forecast to achieve record exports in the 2025-26 season, more than a century after the fruit's introduction to the country. The sector has overcome past disease challenges to establish itself as the world's leading kiwifruit exporter.
LSN India ·
The origins of New Zealand's dominant position in global kiwifruit production trace back to 1904, when Mary Isabel Fraser, a school principal, brought Chinese gooseberry seeds to the country. The seeds germinated successfully, producing their first harvest by 1910, laying the foundation for what would become a transformative agricultural sector.
For decades, the fruit remained largely known by its original name until exporters made a strategic rebranding decision in 1959. Recognizing the commercial potential of the U.S. market, industry players renamed the Chinese gooseberry as 'kiwifruit'—a choice that would help establish the fruit's identity and boost its international appeal. The rebranding proved pivotal in expanding New Zealand's export opportunities.
Today, New Zealand dominates global kiwifruit markets, holding the position of world's largest exporter. The industry has demonstrated resilience by overcoming various disease outbreaks that threatened production in previous years. With improved cultivation techniques and disease management, production volumes have steadily recovered and expanded.
The 2025-26 season is shaping up to be a landmark year for the sector. Industry forecasters predict record-breaking export volumes, signaling strong international demand and the culmination of years of recovery and growth. The outlook reflects both the sector's biological productivity and sustained global appetite for New Zealand kiwifruit.