Its total NZ grown fruit and service payments including the loyalty premium were $2.25 billion.
Overall global operating revenue is also up 16% to $3.89b, with the industry rapidly approaching the $4.5b target originally aimed to be achieved by 2025. The gain in value outstripped the volume increase of 10% to 181m trays.
On a per hectare basis growers experienced an average return for Zespri Green of $7.51 a tray, with per hectare returns hitting $76,722 while SunGold averaged $12.46 a tray and average returns of $158,599 a hectare.
Similar price points are anticipated in Zespri’s price signals for this season. Organic fruit continues to enjoy strong premiums, with SunGold organic making $15.36 a tray, and organic Green $10.53 a tray.
The kiwifruit marketer reported a net profit after tax of $290.5m, up from $200.8m on the year before.
Zespri chairman Bruce Cameron said despite having to make significant changes to the group’s operations to deal with covid, the results were encouraging for the industry.
“Demand for both Green and SunGold increased and we are please to see growing interest from our newest variety, Red, which is a testament to our industry’s ongoing investment in innovation.”
Prospects for the 2021-22 season are also looking positive for market demand, but face capacity constraints including staff for harvest and disruptions to shipping channels.
