Average per hectare returns for many varieties are predicted to exceed the record returns seen in 2024/25
Zespri has announced that its indicative forecast for the 2025/26 season has it on track to deliver ”strong value to growers in another record crop year”.
The indicative June 2025/26 OGR forecast reflects a positive start to the season, the kiwifruit marketer stated, with ranges narrowed from the initial guidance provided in March 2025.
CEO Jason Te Brake said average per hectare returns for Green, Sweet Green, Organic Green and Organic SunGold Kiwifruit are now forecast to exceed last year’s record returns.
“This reflects this season’s increased yields, improvements in our Green and RubyRed fruit size, and additional SunGold Kiwifruit and RubyRed Kiwifruit volume from newly producing orchards,” he outlined.
“We have another bumper crop of more than 200mn trays from New Zealand this season and our sales programmes have started well, particularly in Europe and North America where we’ve seen strong demand.
“This forecast is encouraging, though there are some economic headwinds in Asia, including inflationary pressures in Japan and our teams are working hard to secure good value in generally softer market conditions,” Te Brake continued.
“We’ve now shipped more than 110mn trays of Zespri Kiwifruit which is over half this season’s total crop, with RubyRed sales now complete, and our teams in New Zealand and in market are focused on continuing the positive momentum we’ve started the season with to deliver strong value back to our growers.”
The group’s corporate net profit after tax including licence revenue is forecast to be NZ$248-NZ$258mn, up from NZ$155.2mn last year.
Te Brake noted that while the focus remains on delivering the season well the industry is also making progress on key strategic issues.
This includes increasing grower ownership of Zespri, with the provisional uptake of the recent share alignment initiatives meaning more than 60 per cent of growers will own Zespri shares, up from 48 per cent.
This also follows the successful grower vote in 2024 with 91 per cent of growers supporting offshore expansion, supporting Zespri’s ability to continue to lead the category.
“Our industry is creating significant value for growers and grower shareholders and the communities they support, and the outlook is positive with strong demand,” he said.
”We are currently developing our 2035 strategy to set our sights on the next ten years and how we ensure we are best positioned to deliver the greatest value to New Zealand growers.
“Aligning the commercial interests of growers – ie ensuring all growers and shareholders clearly see the benefit to them in new opportunities – will be critical to this,” Te Brake added.
”With strong demand and the industry continuing to perform well we are making the right steps set ourselves up for the future and we’re committed to continuing to do so.”
