Dec 12, 2017  -  A record 4.754 million tonnes of cargo crossed the port’s wharves in the year to 30 September, up from 3.916 million tonnes in 2016. Container volumes grew 12% to a record 288,444 TEU. Log exports also hit a new high, with 1.63 million tonnes exported through Napier – a 35% increase on last year’s record. Napier Port has released its annual results for the 2017 financial year, reporting record cargo volumes and a strong financial result.

“It’s been an historic year for Napier Port,” said Chief Executive Garth Cowie. “We faced a major challenge in the wake of the Kaikoura earthquake, and I’m proud of the way our people stepped up.

Napier Port saw a significant and unexpected spike in cargo following the quake on 14 November 2016, as containers were rerouted to Napier.

“Essentially, we saw six years’ forecast growth in one year. The release of our annual results is a chance to reflect on the magnitude of that feat. Absorbing that level of unexpected growth without compromising safety or service is a big task, but our people took it in their stride. It’s a real testament to the calibre of our people and our culture.”

It’s not the only major feat for the port this year. The Ovation of the Seas’ maiden call on January 5th saw the giant liner break the record for the largest ship ever to berth at Napier Port.

“We’ve had a fantastic cruise season, and the Ovation’s call was undoubtedly the highlight. It really showed what we’re capable of achieving, and it was great to have such strong support from our tourism partners and our local community.”

More than 125,000 passengers and crew visited Napier over the 2016-2017 season, bringing around $20 million into the local economy. Those numbers are set to grow, with around 150,000 passengers and crew expected this season.

The port’s onsite packing facility, Port Pack, also continued its growth trend this year, with 48,310 TEU containers handled over the course of the year.

“Port Pack now accounts for nearly a third of Napier Port’s containerised full export throughput, and has grown into one of the biggest packing facilities in New Zealand.”

Napier Port delivered an exceptional financial result, reporting a record $16.7 million net profit after tax, up 46% on last year, while delivering $10.7 million in dividends to its sole shareholder, the Hawke’s Bay Regional Investment Company. It invested $18.7 million in capital projects and equipment, including land holdings in Pandora and Whakatu and specialist studies to support its application for resource consent to build a new wharf.

The resource consent application for its proposed 6 Berth Development and Dredging Project was submitted to Hawke’s Bay Regional Council yesterday, and is a crucial element in Napier Port’s future strategy.

“Hawke’s Bay’s economy is in growth mode, and we’re forecast to see cargo volumes nearly double over the next decade, while ship size is also forecast to grow. Having a sixth wharf in place will strengthen our connection to global markets and ensure Hawke’s Bay can continue to thrive and maintain its enduring relevance.”  View the full report here.

With export demand climbing steadily, Napier Port is currently planning to develop a new wharf to accommodate larger ships and cargo demand. For more information on the proposed development, see http://projects.napierport.co.nz/the-project

| A Napier Port release  ||  December 12, 2017   |||

Dec 11, 2017  -   New Zealand exporters need to maintain a dialogue with Government about issues encountered in overseas markets at a time when New Zealand is looking to expand, and possibly reshape, its trade law framework, says Daniel Kalderimis, partner and head of Chapman Tripp’s International Law practice.

"International trade policy is entering choppy waters, and the rise of China, the Trump Administration’s America First philosophy and Brexit will all bear directly on New Zealand in ways that are difficult to predict.

"Although the prognosis looks good post the APEC Summit for the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), there will be continuing uncertainty until the agreement is signed.

"If CPTPP comes into force, export businesses should engage in medium to long-term planning to ensure the smooth operation of global supply chains," Kalderimis said.

So far, we have not seen a retreat from globalisation and liberalised trade that we feared when President Trump was elected, he said.

But there are changes in the wind.

"There is an emerging view that free trade agreements (FTAs) need to address global issues such as climate change and rising inequality and there may be a trend away from investor-state (as opposed to state-state) dispute settlement clauses, which allow corporates to sue governments."

Governments will always do things to support their own constituents, and sometimes that may mean protectionist or complicated rules that increase expense for exporters, said Tracey Epps, trade law consultant at Chapman Tripp and former senior advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) Trade Law Unit.

"But systems are in place that allow the government to address those kinds of actions, as evidenced by New Zealand’s successful claim in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against Indonesia earlier this year.

"There are benefits to businesses engaging early and well to bring sticking points to the attention of relevant officials."

The WTO system is extremely valuable for New Zealand, and as a small country we rely heavily on a rules-based system, she said.

"A real concern at present is that the WTO’s dispute settlement system is under threat from US actions in blocking the appointment of members to the Appellate Body."

Also valuable is New Zealand’s growing network of FTAs, she said. "New Zealand negotiators will have their work cut out for them in Geneva to ensure continued agricultural market access on favourable terms to the United Kingdom and the EU27 following Brexit."

The lawyers were commenting on the release of Chapman Tripp’s publication, International trade law - trends and insights.

| A ChapmanTripp release  ||  December 11, 2017   |||

Dec 11, 2017  -  Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Nauru will be career diplomat Nicci Simmonds.  “New Zealand and Nauru enjoy a good relationship and the High Commissioner will play an important role in strengthening our engagement around mutual interests,” says Mr Peters.

“New Zealand contributes approximately $2.3 million in development assistance to Nauru each year with a focus on building greater self-reliance through improving educational achievement, protecting Pacific fisheries and increasing access to renewable energy.

“New Zealand is also looking forward to Nauru hosting the Pacific Island Forum Leaders’ Meeting in 2018, and to attending Nauru’s milestone celebration of 50 years of independence at the end of January 2018.”

Ms Simmonds, who is Unit Manager in the Pacific Branch of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and manages the Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Nauru team, will be based in New Zealand.

| A beehive release  ||  December 7, 2017   |||

Dec 7, 2017 - A new arrangement signed recently will simplify New Zealand's meat product exports to Egypt, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said today. Under the new arrangement, Egyptian authorities will no longer have to visit each individual meat premise that wishes to export to Egypt.

The arrangement was signed by MPI Director-General Martyn Dunne and Egyptian Deputy Minister for Agriculture Dr Mona Mehrez in Wellington.

"This the first time Egypt has agreed this type of arrangement with any country, and is a clear demonstration of the strength of New Zealand's meat regulatory programme and our good relationship with Egypt that has developed through years of export, engagement and audit," says Mr Dunne.

"It's pleasing New Zealand's meat regulatory programme meets the expectations of the Egyptian Government. New Zealand has a world class meat regulatory programme, and signing of the arrangement with Egypt further reinforces this"

The signing was part of a visit by Dr Mehrez and a delegation of senior Egyptian veterinarians to learn about New Zealand's meat regulatory programme and explore opportunities for collaboration.

This arrangement will make it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the important Egypt market for New Zealand meat products. In the year to 30 June 2017, we exported about $52 million worth of meat products to Egypt.

"New Zealand is proud of its long history of agricultural exports to Egypt," says Mr Dunne. "We are committed to growing this important trade, a key part of which is through simplifying exporting processes. This arrangement is a great example"

"Both New Zealand and Egypt have committed to working together to identify areas we can cooperate in, particularly in animal health and husbandry," says Mr Dunne.

"We look forward to deepening New Zealand's trading relationship with Egypt even further through sharing our respective knowledge and experience"

|n MPI release  ||  December 7,  2017   |||

Dec 5, 2017 -  New Zealand will develop a close relationship with China, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Tuesday, putting to rest fears that his protectionist campaign rhetoric would fuel tension with a key trading partner.  The 40-year political veteran played a decisive role in bringing the centre-left Labour Party to power in October after an inconclusive election left his nationalist New Zealand First party holding the balance of power.

But many in China see New Zealand as a model for the Asian giant's relationship with Western countries, with President Xi Jinping last year calling the depth of the bond "unprecedented".

"Our record of trade and economic firsts is dramatic," Peters, who is also deputy prime minister, told academics and diplomats in Wellington, setting out his stance on China for the first time since taking office.

"New Zealand will continue to seek closer cooperation with China as both countries focus on sustainable economic development and the wellbeing of our peoples," Peters said, giving a complimentary account of 45 years of diplomatic ties.

Continue here to read the full article on investing.com  ||  December 5, 2017   |||

Dec 04,  2017  -  Eagle-eyed planespotters are noticing increasing visits by cargo planes to Christchurch Airport at the moment. This signals the start of the key export season and highlights the valuable contribution local producers and exporters make to the local economy.  Tasman Cargo Airlines National manager Gerry Bray says the company's Boeing 757 Freighter came into Christchurch last Sunday, bringing a variety of goods to the South Island.

He says it left with a range of high value fresh produce bound for Auckland, Sydney and beyond.

"The B757F has a payload capability of 32,000kgs and the aircraft moved nearly 24,000kgs of Sydney-bound general and perishable cargo on the first service" he says.

"The charter flight operated we operated last weekend was the first of many we hope to operate over the coming summer months," he says. "The aircraft will visit Christchurch at least weekly through December.

"It signals the start of the South Island's peak perishables export production season, with air freight in high demand for all primary producers from dairy, to fresh meat, to stone fruitand more," he says.

Christchurch Airport's Chief Aeronautical and Commercial Officer, Justin Watson, says in the year ended June 2017, more than 30,000 tonnes of air freight transited through the airport.

"Indications already suggest a bumper season of South Island exports," he says. "Our international airline partners, including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, China Southern Airlines, Emirates and Cathay Pacific, are also taking freight out every day to some of the world's leading hubs, such as Sydney, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Guangzhou.

"We anticipate a repeat of peak demand for high quality South Island produce for Chinese New Year, with extra flights this year taking cherries, chilled meat and live crayfish, among other things, to dinner tables across Asia."

| A Christchurch Airport release  ||  December 4, 2017  |||

Dec 4,  2017  - Uncertainty over Brexit means New Zealand needs to urgently focus on developing brands and differentiating our agricultural exports.  Senior lecturer in Agribusiness Management, Dr Nic Lees, said New Zealand produces some of the best fruit, wine, meat, seafood and dairy products in the world but around 70 per cent reaches the consumer with no identification that is sourced from here.

“Sudden changes such as Brexit remind us that relying on undifferentiated commodity exports leaves us vulnerable to sudden changes in government policies,” Dr Lees said.

“When consumers demand a branded product, it is difficult for governments to shut it out of the market.”

Forty-four years ago, Britain joined the European Common Market. At the time Britain took approximately 90 per cent of our butter, 75 per cent of our cheese and about 80 per cent of our lamb exports. Britain had to adopt the European “common agricultural policy” which imposed tariffs and quotas on non-European agricultural imports

This meant New Zealand was effectively shut out of our largest agricultural export market. At the time, most of these products were being exported as commodities, frozen lamb carcasses and blocks of cheese. The only branded product was Anchor butter.

For the next thirty years the New Zealand economy suffered as we searched for new markets and attempted to develop alternative industries. China has replaced Britain as our largest market. However, 70-80 per cent of our food exports are still sold as commodity products.

“We need to develop differentiated and branded products that consumers demand,” he said.

“We can learn a lesson from Anchor butter, as it is a brand that is still strong in the British market.”

However, he said, New Zealand has never been good at marketing our food products.

“Despite our reliance on food exports, Lincoln University provides the only specialist food marketing degree in New Zealand. The Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing was developed due to a call from industry for graduates who understand the specialised nature of producing and marketing our food products.

“It is an integrated degree covering agribusiness management, food science, supply chain management and food marketing. This provides students with a unique set of skills specifically focused on preparing them for marketing the unique features of New Zealand food products.”

He said Zespri kiwifruit and New Zealand wine have led the way in developing strong brands that consumers demand.

“Unfortunately, most other industries still focus primarily on commodity trading.”

The development of synthetic alternatives to meat and milk also calls for stronger branding.

“Developing a culture of marketing and meeting consumer demands for natural health foods provides New Zealand with a way to capture more value from our exports.

“To do this we need graduates going into the industry with an understanding of the whole value chain and who are passionate about positioning New Zealand food as a premium product branded and targeted at specific consumers.,” Dr Lees said.

| A Lincoln University release   ||  December 4, 2017    ||||

Dec 4, 2017  -New Zealand’s two-way trade with APEC reached $102 billion for the year ended September 2017, Stats NZ said today.  The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum brings together 21 Pacific Rim member economies, including Australia, China, and the United States – three of our main trading partners.

"Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing economic region in the world," international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said. "Over the last decade, New Zealand's two-way trade with APEC has grown $31 billion, and a $2.6 billion deficit is now a $4 billion surplus."

APEC is the Asia-Pacific's main economic forum where a number of trade agreements are reached. Talks are currently underway at APEC on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Eleven of the 21 APEC countries are in the trade talks.

In the September 2017 year, New Zealand had a $4 billion surplus with APEC – we exported $53 billion worth of goods and services to APEC, and imported $49 billion. Most of our surplus with APEC countries is due to our $3 billion surplus with China. This is mainly due to New Zealand's exports of dairy products to China, and spending by visitors from China in New Zealand.

Dairy products our largest export to APEC nations

Dairy products are our largest export to the combined APEC nations. New Zealand exported $9 billion worth of milk powder, butter, and cheese to these countries in the September 2017 year, $2 billion short of the $11 billion high exported in the September 2014 year.

China is New Zealand’s largest export market for milk powder, butter, and cheese, totalling 28 percent – nearly $4 billion in the September 2017 year. Our next-largest export market for these products is Algeria, which makes up 5 percent. APEC countries (China, Australia, and Malaysia) account for three of our top five dairy export markets.

Vehicles lead the way in imports

New Zealand’s main imports from APEC are vehicles, machinery, and equipment. New Zealand imports a large amount of cars and trucks from Japan, Thailand, the US, and South Korea, all of which are APEC nations.

New Zealand imported $2 billion worth of electrical machinery and equipment from China in the September 2017 year, and nearly $4 billion worth of mechanical machinery and equipment from China, the US, and Japan combined.

Travel spending contributes to trade surplus

Travel also contributes significantly to our trade surplus with the APEC nations. Visitors and students from APEC nations provided $9 billion to the New Zealand economy in the September 2017 year through exports of travel services, mainly by visitors from Australia, China, and the US.

Spending by New Zealanders visiting APEC nations (imports of travel services) totalled $4 billion in the September 2017 year, with personal travel accounting for $3 billion of this. The majority of New Zealanders’ personal travel spending was in Australia, followed by the US. Visitors from the US added $1 billion to the New Zealand economy in the September 2017 year, while New Zealand visitors added $531 million to the US economy.

For more information about these statistics:

Visit Goods and services trade by country: Year ended September 2017See CSV files for download

| A StatsNZ release  ||  December 4, 2017   |||

Dec 4, 2017  -  Scott Technology is confident it can survive the growing prospect of a US-led trade war with manufacturing around the world spreading its risk, says chair Stuart McLauchlan.  The Dunedin-based maker of robotic and automation systems derives about 94 percent of its revenue from exports and has been a happy buyer of businesses to expand its operations over the years. McLauchlan reminded shareholders at today's annual meeting in Dunedin that he was hopeful US President Donald Trump's new administration would continue the work of its predecessors in liberalising trade flows.

"Unfortunately, we have now witnessed a withdrawal by the United States from this leadership position allowing China to now take this lead," McLauchlan said today. "Overhanging this are the dark clouds of a trade war initiated by the United States threatening to invoke tariffs against their trading partners."

Still, he was optimistic Scott's geographic diversity with manufacturing operations in North America, China and Europe would be enough to counter a trade war.

New Zealand's position as an open economy that trades with the world has been cited by policymakers as leaving the nation vulnerable to trade protectionism. At the recent East Asia Leaders Summit, US president Trump forcefully expressed a preference for bilateral deals as part of his 'America First' stance, having already withdrawn from the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership and taking a hard-line in the North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations currently underway.

Despite the cooling appetite for global trade, Scott's McLauchlan told shareholders the company's automation systems were poised to capture a growing appetite among firms to replace their ageing workforces with robotic and digital processes, and it had a "very full" order book across all sectors its services.

"The enquiries being received by Scott for our automation solutions is at an all-time high," he said.

Managing director Chris Hopkins told the AGM the company is "over-capitalised" and needs to grow, which will be through organic expansion and acquisitions.

Scott has about $26 million of surplus cash from its investment by cornerstone shareholder JBS, and Hopkins said his team has looked at more than 30 potential acquisitions but doesn't expect to complete any in the near term.

The shares were unchanged to $3.70 and have climbed 72 percent so far this year.

| Source: Sharechat  |  November 30,  2017   |||

Dec 1, 2017  -  New Zealand's terms of trade rose 0.7 percent in the September 2017 quarter to reach an all-time high, Stats NZ said today. The latest increase was due to import prices falling more than export prices.  Terms of trade is a measure of the purchasing power of New Zealand’s exports abroad and an indicator of the state of the overall economy. The 0.7 percent rise in the September quarter means New Zealand can buy 0.7 percent more imports for the same amount of exports.

"The terms of trade increased over the last year, driven by high meat and dairy prices, especially butter, to reach the highest level since the series began in March 1957," international statistics senior manager Daria Kwon said. "The previous high for the terms of trade was the June 1973 quarter."

The new high in the terms of trade echoes the impact seen in the early 1970s, when prices also rose for dairy and meat, as well as wool. However, the early 1970s’ boom for export prices was short-lived. New Zealand’s terms of trade fell after key export market Great Britain joined the European Economic Community, and the first big oil crisis pushed up fuel prices sharply in late 1973.

| A StatisticsNZ release  ||  December 1, 2017   |||