Exporters are confident they will survive the current Covid-19-related barriers, despite rising costs and a closed border.
Photo: AFP
The annual ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer indicates 46 percent of exporters have developed new products and services, with 62 percent expecting international orders to increase over the next year.
However, 78 percent were concerned about increased costs and the unpredictability of transport options as the main barriers to exporting, as well as the ongoing closure of the border.
"Businesses are increasingly concerned that while the rest of the world is getting back to business, New Zealand exporters risk losing business to competitors and/or gaining a reputation of being unreliable, expensive and potentially slow to deliver," ExportNZ executive director Catherine Beard said, adding that 51 percent were worried about the inability to travel due to border and MIQ restrictions.
Despite the challenges, the report indicates experienced exporters were looking for opportunities and have developed new products and services to increase export sales.
DHL Express New Zealand vice president commercial Selina Deadman said the past year had been tough for exporters but the outlook was much more optimistic.
"It is pleasing to see that 51 percent experienced an increase in their international export orders; a statistic that is reflected in the strong export shipment growth that we have seen through our network," Deadman said.
The report also highlighted the impact of global freight congestion as 88 percent of exporters had experienced an increase in logistics costs, 86 percent experienced delayed transport times and 57 percent were unable to get shipping space.
Another 44 percent of exporters wanted government assistance, primarily to prioritise exporters for vaccinations and safe travel, with no MIQ being necessary.
"Kiwi exporters have stressed that the closed borders are heavily impacting their business; forcing them to make staff cuts, shut down or relocate offshore until the border closure rules offer a solution," the report says.