Indian exporters in various sectors like agriculture, petroleum, pharma, apparel, electronics and auto have potential not only to scale up shipments to New Zealand but also help the island nation reduce its dependence on China.
According to think tank GTRI, in 2024-25, New Zealand imported goods worth over USD 10 billion from China compared to just USD 711 million from New Delhi. Wellington’s total imports in that fiscal year were USD 50 billion.
GTRI’s report stated that opportunities exist for various Indian sectors to increase penetration in the island nation, given a bilateral free trade agreement.
The sectors with potential include processed foods and agri-linked products, petroleum products and industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, plastics, rubber and consumer goods, textiles and apparel, electronics and electrical equipment, automobiles and transport equipment, aerospace and high-value manufacturing, furniture and lighting.
India is a significant global exporter of bakery products, with exports of USD 602 million worldwide. New Zealand imports around USD 250 million of these goods annually, yet India supplies only USD 6.5 million compared to USD 21 million from China, the report said on Thursday.
The pattern repeats in food preparations also. India exports USD 817 million globally, New Zealand imports USD 455 million, and India’s share is just USD 7.7 million.
In oil-cake and animal feed preparations, India’s global exports range from USD 382 million to USD 507 million, and New Zealand’s imports are USD 340 million to USD 379 million.
“India’s exports are negligible, between USD 0.1 million and USD 5 million, even though Chinese competition in these lines is minimal. This suggests an untapped market rather than one blocked by entrenched suppliers,” GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said.
Similarly, India is among the world’s largest exporters of refined petroleum products, with global exports of USD 69.2 billion.
New Zealand imports around USD 6.1 billion worth of these products each year, but sources only USD 2.3 million from India, while China supplies USD 181 million.
A similar gap, it said, exists in aluminium oxide. India exports more than USD 1.1 billion globally, and New Zealand imports worth USD 255 million. Yet, Indian exports to New Zealand amount to just USD 0.2 million.
In pharma also, India’s export strength is clearest in medicines, with global exports at USD 20.6 billion.
New Zealand imports nearly USD 962 million worth of medicines, but India supplies only USD 75 million, against China’s exports at USD 9.6 million in this category.
In biologicals and vaccines, India exports USD 1.6 billion globally, and New Zealand imports USD 328 million. India exports only USD 5.2 million, another case of significant under-penetration, Srivastava said.
“In women’s woven apparel, India’s global exports stand at USD 3 billion. New Zealand imports USD 179 million, but India supplies just USD 9.8 million, while China accounts for USD 112 million, despite India’s well-established competitiveness in garments,” he added.
Further, India’s global exports of telecom equipment exceed USD 21.7 billion. The island nation imports USD 1.3 billion, but India supplies only USD 7.6 million, while China exports stand at USD 707 million.
“Transformers, batteries, switchgear and cables show similar gaps: Indian global exports of USD 1-3 billion, New Zealand imports of USD 175 million to USD 300 million, and only marginal Indian participation,” GTRI said.
In the auto sector, India exports USD 6.9 billion of passenger vehicles globally, and New Zealand imports USD 3.1 billion. India supplies just USD 26.6 million compared to USD 261 million from China.
In auto parts, India’s global exports exceed USD 7.4 billion, but shipments to New Zealand are only USD 2.9 million, against USD 69.5 million from China.
He added that for India, the challenge now is to pair the FTA with targeted export promotion, standards cooperation, regulatory facilitation and logistics support.
(This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)
