NZ Avocado Exporters Ship Surplus Fruit to Australia
Class two and three New Zealand avocados are being sent to Australia to ease a domestic supply glut.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Australia and New Zealand
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New Zealand avocado exporters are sending class two and three fruit into the Australian market as domestic volumes exceed 50,000 trays per week. Darling Group is exporting all four avocado grades to Australia, with about 25,000 trays of lower grades shipped.
Why it matters
The domestic market is highly volume-sensitive and struggles to hold value when supply climbs above 50,000 trays weekly. Redirecting lower-grade fruit to Australia offers an alternative to surplus processing for growers during peak harvest.
Domestic volumes reached 101,531 trays in late August, 96,925 in late September and 89,763 in early October, far above the 50,000-tray weekly threshold where prices struggle. About 25,000 trays of class two and three fruit are being sent to Australia, though the stub does not report the final shipment total.
The players
Darling Group
A New Zealand avocado exporter based in the Bay of Plenty that is shipping all four avocado grades to Australia.
The details
Rather than sending surplus fruit to processing, exporters are shipping class two fruit to Australian retail as pre-packed value offerings and class three fruit to food service, where the processing grade is used for avocado oil. Exports generally taper at the end of January and end in early February.
Timeline
Late August: domestic volume reached 101,531 trays.
Last week of September: domestic volume reached 96,925 trays.
First week of October: 89,763 trays hit the domestic market.
December: vastly improved domestic pricing is expected.
End of January to early February: Australian exports expected to tail off.
Seasonal Patterns
The Bay of Plenty peak harvest repeatedly pushes New Zealand domestic avocado volumes beyond 50,000 trays weekly, pressuring prices each season. Exporters are now using Australia as a release valve for lower grades, a response to that recurring seasonal cycle.
Shoppers in New Zealand may see lower avocado prices in December as domestic supply eases, according to the outlook. Those planning Australian grocery purchases should note that class two avocados are now entering retail as pre-packed value offerings.
The takeaway
Exporting lower-grade fruit offers growers a way to keep surplus avocados moving when domestic markets are oversupplied. Readers tracking seasonal produce prices can expect the market to shift as the 2026 season unfolds.
Further reading
For more on regional travel and produce trade, explore Australia and New Zealand coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sunlive.
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