The Mount Maunganui company reaffirmed its forecast for net profit of between $175 million and $180m in the year ending March 31, 2019, up from $101.8m last financial year.
It expects to pay a dividend $1.35 to $1.40 a share, up from 76 cents last season.
“This season is about delivering growth in volume while sustaining as much value as we can and our teams are working hard to make this happen,” Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson said.
“Market conditions have been quite challenging with higher volumes of low-priced fruit in many markets.
“However, the season has a way to go and we are building momentum through our marketing campaigns to stay on track, drive sales and sustain our run rates,” he said.
The kiwifruit industry has rebounded after developing new varieties resistant to Psa bacteria, which was discovered in New Zealand in 2010 and severely affected the industry.
Zespri expects green kiwifruit to return $5.47 a tray in the 2018-19 season, down from $6.71 last season, while the average per-hectare return is forecast to increase to a new record of $64,455 from $59,981.
The Zespri organic green variety is forecast to return $8.67 a tray, down from $8.93, with the average return per hectare lifting to $69,663 from $52,375.
Its sweeter green variety, known as Green14, is forecast to return $6.85 a tray, up from $5.61 last season, with the average return per hectare lifting to $43,876 from $38,937.
SunGold fruit will return $10.28 a tray, up from $10.07 last season, with the average return per hectare rising to $138,973 from $114,345, it said.
Zespri shares last traded at $7.95, having changed hands between $6.35 and $9.25 over the past year. The shares began trading on the USX trading platform in February 2016 but can be owned only by growers. – BusinessDesk
