Zespri kiwifruit unloading Antwerp

New Zealand-based kiwifruit marketer Zespri is set to sell around 92m trays of kiwifruit this year, with export volumes down 17m trays on the previous year.

Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported that Zespri is expecting to sell 68m trays of green kiwifruit this year and 24m trays of its gold variety, with numbers hit by the impact of the Psa vine disease in the country.

Zespri chief executive officer Lain Jager told RNZ that the group was 'pleased' with sales returns, but added that the value of the New Zealand dollar was impacting on trading.

However, he noted that there would probably be improvements in grower returns this year due a good crop which is in shorter supply than 2011, meaning higher prices.