Update on exports - May 2026

It’s been a while since we provided an update on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, mainly because not a lot has changed.

The main impact we’ve seen so far has been increased global shipping costs through higher fuel prices and insurance surcharges.

As a reminder, very little of our product goes directly to the Middle East. We supply about 80 global markets, which gives us flexibility and resilience when disruptions occur, and international demand for New Zealand beef and lamb remains strong.  

At this stage, exports into the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and North America are continuing as normal, and some opportunities in Middle Eastern markets are also beginning to reopen.

We are used to operating in an environment where conditions can change quickly and, along with the wider sector, we have strong experience in managing volatility and redirecting product where required.

We’ll continue to monitor how the situation impacts our business but at this stage the overall outlook remains positive despite the current disruption.