According to the Customs Department, two-way trade reached USD 844 million in the first half of 2026, of which Viet Nam’s exports to New Zealand totaled USD 399.7 million, up 18.8% year-on-year, while imports stood at USD 444 million.
Electronics, garments and agricultural products remained Viet Nam’s major export categories. Phones and components led the list at USD 98 million, up 7% year-on-year, followed by computers, electronic products and components at USD 47.6 million, up 17.8%. Garments generated USD 31.6 million, up 14.9%, while machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts brought in USD 29.6 million, up 19.8%. Exports of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products also posted strong growth.
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Processing cashew nuts for export at Nguyen Thong Co., Ltd. in Dak Lak province |
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that despite its relatively small size, New Zealand offers significant room for expansion and could help Vietnamese exporters diversify their markets. However, imported aquatic products are subject to stringent quality and food safety requirements, broadly comparable to European Union standards.
VASEP noted that from February 2027, tighter controls will apply to several aquatic product categories, including shrimp, lobster and ready-to-eat crab products, which will be subject to testing for Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. The association recommended that Vietnamese seafood businesses use the time available to review their quality management systems and update standards to meet New Zealand’s requirements.
The Viet Nam Cashew Association (VINACAS) also described New Zealand as a promising market, saying the country currently imports around USD 1.23 million worth of Vietnamese cashew nuts per month, but the average import price is relatively high, reflecting strong demand for quality products in the retail and premium segments.
Apart from trade, Viet Nam’s tourism sector is also benefiting from growing interest among New Zealanders. A survey of 2,300 New Zealanders conducted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation found that 39% expressed a desire to visit Viet Nam, ranking the country behind Japan (66%), Singapore (44%) and Thailand (43%), but ahead of Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia.
According to the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, arrivals from New Zealand increased 19.4% year on year in the first seven months of 2026. In July alone, arrivals from New Zealand rose 22.4%.
Source: VNA