NZ
New Zealand Import & Export Toolkit
New Zealand is the world's largest dairy exporter and a major agri-food supplier. This hub covers LC cost in NZD/USD, mostly duty-free tariff regime, 15% GST and New Zealand Customs Service clearance.
Currency
NZD (New Zealand Dollar)
GST
15% standard
Charged on CIF + duty. Creditable for GST-registered businesses. Low-value goods GST collected at point of sale for offshore vendors.
Duty regime
Mostly 0% MFN with limited protected sectors (apparel, footwear, some steel). FTAs with China, Australia, ASEAN, CPTPP, RCEP, EU, UK reduce residual duty to zero on ~95% of imports.
Free calculators for New Zealand trade
LC Cost Calculator →
All-in bank charges on a Letter of Credit.
Usance LC Interest →
Deferred payment cost with correct ACT/360 or ACT/365 basis.
Import Duty & Tax →
Duty, VAT/GST and landed cost per HS code.
Landed Cost by HS & Country →
Interactive duty + VAT/GST + Incoterm split for this destination.
CIF ↔ FOB Converter →
Convert between CIF, FOB and landed cost.
HS Code Lookup →
Search harmonised classification codes.
CBM & Container →
Volume, weight and container utilisation.
Incoterms 2020 Visualiser →
Cost, risk and document split across all 11 rules.
Multi-Currency Invoice →
FX spread and cross-currency invoice value.
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Major ports & gateways
- · Auckland (Ports of Auckland)
- · Tauranga - NZ's largest port by volume
- · Lyttelton (Christchurch)
- · Napier
Top exports
- · Dairy (milk powder, butter, cheese - Fonterra leads)
- · Meat (lamb, beef)
- · Wood & wood products
- · Fruit (kiwifruit, apples)
- · Wine
- · Fish & seafood
- · Wool
Top imports
- · Crude & refined petroleum
- · Cars & auto parts
- · Machinery
- · Electronics
- · Textiles
Trade finance in New Zealand
- · NZD LC usance uses ACT/365 (Commonwealth).
- · NZ banks (ANZ, BNZ, ASB, Westpac NZ) offer LC services; most large-scale trade finance runs through the parent Australian banks.
Customs & duty in New Zealand
- · NZ uses the Working Tariff Document (WTD) 10-digit aligned to WCO HS.
- · NZ Customs uses TSW (Trade Single Window) for electronic clearance.
- · MPI biosecurity checks are stringent - fumigation and phytosanitary certificates required for many agri imports.
Incoterms 2020 practice in New Zealand
- · CIF Tauranga / Auckland is standard for imports. FOB for exports.
- · DDP is straightforward for GST-registered non-residents.
HS commodity guides for New Zealand
Classification, duty and worked landed-cost examples for the commodity families most active on New Zealand's trade lanes.
HS 61 & 62Consumer goods
HS Code for Textiles & Apparel (Chapters 61 and 62) into New Zealand →
HS 85Electronics
HS Code for Electronics (Chapter 85) into New Zealand →
HS 84Industrial
HS Code for Industrial Machinery (Chapter 84) into New Zealand →
HS 72Metals
HS Code for Iron & Steel (Chapter 72) into New Zealand →
HS 2710Energy
HS Code for Petroleum Products (HS 2710) into New Zealand →
HS 2709Energy
HS Code for Crude Oil (HS 2709) into New Zealand →
HS 31Agricultural
HS Code for Fertilizers (Chapter 31) into New Zealand →
HS 30Regulated
HS Code for Pharmaceuticals (Chapter 30) into New Zealand →
New Zealand's key trading partners
Singapore toolkit →
GST · 9% standard (from 2024)
China toolkit →
Import VAT · 13% standard, 9% reduced, 6% services
United States toolkit →
No federal VAT / GST · 0% federal
United Kingdom toolkit →
VAT · 20% standard, 5% reduced, 0% zero-rated
Japan toolkit →
Consumption Tax (JCT) · 10% standard / 8% reduced (food, newspapers)
South Korea toolkit →
VAT · 10%
Frequently asked questions
How strict is NZ biosecurity?
Extremely. MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) inspects most containers on arrival. Wooden packaging (pallets, crates) must be ISPM-15 heat-treated and stamped. Failure to comply can result in re-export or destruction at importer's cost.