Gold kiwifruit continues to dominate fruit exports in an otherwise challenging market, Stats NZ says.

In the year ended November 2021, gold kiwifruit made up 47 per cent, or $1.9 billion of total fruit export value, while green kiwifruit made up 23 per cent - $923 million worth.

Both increases were quantity driven, with prices falling compared with the previous year.

Gold kiwifruit have a traditionally higher unit price than green.

Since the kiwifruit season in 2016, which is typically from March to November, gold has overtaken green in terms of value.

In the 2020 season, gold kiwifruit also overtook green in terms of volume.

“While green kiwifruit continues to be in high demand, growers in New Zealand are increasingly planting gold, and now red kiwifruit, to capture greater export value in markets like China and Japan,” international trade manager Alasdair Allen says.

Total fruit exports remained relatively flat, up 1.3 per cent in the year ended November 2021 compared with November 2020.

Kiwifruit made up 71 per cent - $2.8 billion - of the total value of fruit exports, while apples made up 21 per cent - $843 million.

Apple exports fell 7.2 per cent in value, with quantities down 11 per cent this season, which traditionally ends in November.

“It’s been a challenging season for apple growers, with some adverse weather events and continued labour shortages earlier in the year contributing to lower than usual output,” Alasdair says.

China is the top export market for New Zealand apples, overtaking the European Union for the 2021 season.