New Zealand Makes Strong Showing at China's Premier Trade Event
Aotearoa businesses went along to this year's China International Import Expo running this week in Shanghai.
New Zealand businesses secured up to NZ$450 million in new trade deals at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai from 5-10 November 2025, marking the country's most significant presence at the annual event since its inception in 2018.
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay joined New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and over 80 New Zealand companies at the eighth CIIE, where more than 20 Memorandums of Understanding and supply agreements were signed between New Zealand and Chinese companies. The deals spanned a wide range of sectors including food and beverage, pet food, and health supplements.
New Zealand's participation this year featured a 1,000 square metre "Taste New Zealand" Pavilion, jointly hosted by NZTE and the China Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand. The pavilion was double the size of the previous year and housed 38 exhibitors, representing the country's largest exhibition footprint to date. Major New Zealand export enterprises participated in full, with several companies launching new products during the event.
The successful outcomes reflect the strengthening business partnerships between New Zealand and China, with New Zealand's exports to China growing nearly 10 percent in the year to June 2025. Two-way trade between the nations topped $40 billion for the first time, demonstrating the robust and expanding economic relationship.
Minister McClay emphasized that the deals represented new trade value projected over the next 12 months, fostering a new chapter of growth between the two nations. Several companies held special signing ceremonies during the event, amplifying New Zealand's commercial presence in China's market.
