Zespri departs final kiwifruit charter shipment to China

Zespri has dispatched its final charter shipment of the 2026 New Zealand kiwifruit season. The vessel, named Whero, departed from the Port of Tauranga carrying over 1.7 million trays, or 6,120 tonnes, of SunGold Kiwifruit destined for Shanghai, China.

This shipment represents the 57th charter vessel used to deliver a record crop of approximately 225 million trays (810,000 tonnes) this season. CEO Jason Te Brake noted that while the global trading environment has been challenging and the fruit category more competitive, demand has remained strong across many key markets, including Europe and North America. In Greater China, sales were bolstered by the recent Mid-Autumn Festival.

As the New Zealand season concludes, the company is preparing for a transition to Northern Hemisphere-grown fruit and planning for the 2027 season.