Zespri forecasts steady demand and uninterrupted shipments for the 2026/27 season
Zespri released its first guidance to growers for the 2026/27 season, forecasting returns at similar levels to the 2025 season as early-season fruit is arriving to market.
In a press release published on the company's website, CEO Jason Te Brake said that while the geopolitical environment is currently dynamic, the current season has started well. The executive noted that harvesting efforts have made good progress, supporting a fast start for a season that promises another large crop of around 220 million trays.
“Our RubyRed harvest is close to finish, with almost all of this season’s five million trays now packed," he said.
With RubyRed volumes up from around three million trays last year, Te Brake explained Zespri's sales programs have extended to include Australia, Vietnam, and Canada for the first time. The SunGold harvest is also now underway, the executive said.
Geopolitical volatility is not stopping Zespri
Despite heightened geopolitical uncertainty from the ongoing tension in the Middle East, Te Brake said the company's shipping program is tracking well, with fruit moving steadily to market. He explained Zespri kiwifruit is reaching Europe via the Panama Canal, with a strong pipeline of vessels arriving in New Zealand over the coming weeks.
Freight costs remain a concern for the global producer, and the executive said the company is working continuously with its shipping partners to monitor any impacts on retailers.
“Our initial guidance reflects positive demand for our fruit and the removal of US tariffs, while factoring in assumptions about the cost of bunker fuel and freight based on the latest information available, as well as the estimated impact from the conflict in the Middle East, allowing for the potential of wider supply chain disruption,” Te Brake stated.
Due to the changing environment, Zespri anticipates continued movement in its foreign exchange positions this season. The company's initial guidance reflects positive movements with the Euro and Chinese Yuan, offset by a debilitated trio of currencies: the US Dollar, the Japanese Yen, and the Korean Won.
Zespri's March guidance is a preliminary forecast. The company said estimates will be updated throughout the year as soon as there's a firmer view of fruit and market performance, as well as the scale and duration of the conflict in the Middle East.
*All images courtesy of Zespri.
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