Zespri Kiwifruit Industry 2020/21 Season Overview

The 2020/21 season saw Zespri total sales volumes of global Zespri kiwifruit production reached 181.5m trays. Zespri global sales by volume increased by 10% compared to the previous year, with global sales by value increasing by 14% to $3.58 billion New Zealand Dollars (NZD). In addition, the season saw a 9% increase in New Zealand (NZ) grown trays sold and a 14% increase in export earnings for NZ grown fruit. A larger percentage increase in sales value (export earnings) compared to sales volume (trays sold) shows increasing value for Zespri kiwifruit in global markets. This can be attributed to strong global consumer demand for Zespri kiwifruit which has been reflected in strong returns for growers. The 2020/21 season saw strong Orchard Gate Returns (OGR’s) across all Zespri categories with total fruit and service payments to NZ growers increasing by 15% compared to the previous year.

Zespri shareholders received a dividend per share of $1.33 in the 2020/21 season, this was a 41% increase from the previous year (2019/20) dividend per share of $0.94. Grower returns per hectare and per trays increased across all Zespri categories in the2020/21 season. In the conventional gold (G3) Zespri kiwifruit category, average OGR per ha in the 2020/21 season was a record return of $177,846 NZD. This increase in per ha returns is driven by increasing production (number of trays) per ha and a trend of increasing average tray prices since the 2015/16 season in the conventional gold (G3) category. The Covid-19 pandemic led to consumers actively searching for foods high in Vitamin C such as kiwifruit, contributing to the increased global demand. The Covid-19 pandemic created uncertainty and challenges throughout the Zespri kiwifruit supply chain, despite this the industry continued to operate and deliver strong returns to growers.

Source: Zespri International

Read more here: https://www.zespri.com/content/dam/zespri/nz/annual-reports/Annual_Report_2020_21.pdf