Demand for New Zealand seafood is at a global high, with more destinations around the world choosing to serve up freshly caught produce.
China is the fastest-growing market for New Zealand seafood, especially salmon, recording 85 percent year-on-year growth for the year ending September 2025. Around 732 tonnes were transported in the bellyhold of passenger flights departing AKL to cities including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, in the past 12 months.
Since launching in July, China Southern’s dedicated freighter service between AKL and Guangzhou has added further capacity and strengthened supply chain resilience.
Akaroa King Salmon operates the worlds smallest ocean-based salmon farm, known for producing the highest quality King Salmon, naturally rich in Omega-3. It exports via AKL to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei and the United States, and featured on restaurant menu’s from Las Vegas to New York.
CEO of Akaroa King Salmon, Stewart Hawthorn, said the chefs we supply wouldn’t risk putting our salmon on the menu if they thought a freight load might be missed or if the fish wasn't going to arrive in perfect condition.
“We can have fish harvested in Akaroa in the morning and into Christchurch for processing within a few hours, that’s how tight and well-managed our cold chain is,” said Hawthorn.
“From there, fast, reliable airfreight connects us to chefs around the world, from New York to Dubai, who depend on us for quality and freshness. Without that secure cold chain and dependable air connections, we couldn’t meet the exacting demands of the top chefs we work with. As a 100 percent New Zealand–owned partnership, every time we connect with a top international partner, those export dollars come straight back home, and we like to think our King Salmon showcases the very best of New Zealand seafood.”
Auckland Airport has begun the staged opening of the new purpose-built cargo precinct on Manu Tapu Drive. The precinct sits alongside the recently opened northern airfield expansion with direct airfield access. Auckland Airport handles 89 percent of New Zealand’s international air cargo.
The NZD 465 million airfield upgrade, which opened in September this year, added parking space for up to 11 jets and provides direct transport links to the new cargo precinct.
“The new cargo hub future-proofs New Zealand’s air cargo capacity,” said Auckland Airport’s Chief Customer Officer Scott Tasker.
“It’s crucial we’re supporting regional New Zealand exporters to deliver their products globally, and our new cargo infrastructure, which is bringing most of our freight operators together for the first time in the same location, coupled with an upgraded roading network, will significantly improve access to cargo aircraft.”
Growing New Zealand’s seafood and aquaculture exports is a priority for the industry, with a plan announced earlier this year to grow the country's aquaculture sector to reach NZD 3 billion in annual revenue by 2030, including consents to farm at least 75,000 tones of open ocean salmon, by 2035.
Subscribe to the Restaurant & Café newsletter for weekly industry updates and event coverage.
