Wellington: New Zealand’s total meat exports reached a record 10 billion NZ dollars (5.6 billion U.S. dollars) in the year ended October 2025, Stats NZ reported Friday. This marks the first time annual meat export values have hit the 10-billion-NZ-dollar milestone, surpassing the previous high of 9.9 billion NZ dollars (5.55 billion dollars) set in the year ended November 2022.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the increase of 1.6 billion NZ dollars (900 million dollars) in total meat exports in the year ended October 2025, compared to the year ended October 2024, was driven mainly by higher unit prices for sheep meat and beef exports, said Stats NZ international accounts spokesperson Viki Ward. The United States is New Zealand’s leading beef export market, while the European Union is the leading destination for sheep meat, she added.

Sheep meat exports rose by 951 million NZ dollars (532.69 million dollars), while beef exports increased by 625 million NZ dollars (350 million dollars), statistics showed. Total exports from New Zealand for the year ended October 2025 were valued at 79.4 billion NZ dollars (44.47 billion dollars), up 9.8 billion NZ dollars (5.49 billion dollars) from the prior year, Stats NZ said.