Country guide
Shipping between the US and New Zealand
Australia and Oceania · 13 port guides
In 2025 the United States exported $4.1 billion of goods to New Zealand and imported $5.6 billion from there. New Zealand ranked 54th among US export markets and 50th among sources of US imports.
Auckland
Gisborne
Greymouth
Manukau Harbor
Nelson
New Plymouth
Opua
Otago Harbor
Port Lyttelton
Tauranga
Timaru
Wellington
Whangarei
- US exports, 2025
- $4.1BDown 8.8% on 2024 ($4.5 billion)
- US imports, 2025
- $5.6BDown 0.6% on 2024 ($5.6 billion)
- Goods balance
- $1.5BUS deficit
- Export market rank
- 54thAmong destinations of US goods
- Import source rank
- 50thAmong sources of US imports
Top goods each way
The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.
US exports to New Zealand
Aircraft and spacecraft (chapter 88) led US exports to New Zealand at $1.1 billion, 27% of the total. The top three chapters made up 47%.
US imports from New Zealand
Meat (chapter 02) led US imports from New Zealand at $1.7 billion, 31% of the total. The top three chapters made up 50%.
Trade terms
The United States has no free trade agreement in force with New Zealand, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.
Through Norfolk-Newport News
The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with New Zealand.
- Exports through the port, 2025
- $43.9M1.1% of the US total with New Zealand
- Leading export goods
- Vehicles and partsHS chapter 87, $27.4 million
- Imports through the port, 2025
- $46.8M0.8% of the US total with New Zealand
- Leading import goods
- Optical, medical and precision instrumentsHS chapter 90, $25.7 million
Ports in New Zealand
13 ports in New Zealand have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Port Lyttelton records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 13.7 m.
- AucklandCargo pier 13 m, channel 12.5 m, container, ro-ro, breakbulk and bulkNZ AKL
- GisborneCargo pier 9.4 m, channel 9.4 m, container, breakbulk and bulkNZ GIS
- GreymouthCargo pier 4.9 m, channel 1.8 mNZ GMN
- Manukau HarborCargo pier 4.9 m, channel 3.4 m, containerNZ MCY
- NelsonCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 6.4 mNZ NSN
- New PlymouthCargo pier 9.4 m, channel 9.4 mNZ NPL
- OpuaCargo pier 6.4 m, channel 4.9 m, ro-roNZ OPX
- Otago HarborCargo pier 12.5 m, channel 14 mNZ ORR
- Port LytteltonCargo pier 13.7 m, channel 17 m, container, ro-ro, breakbulk and bulkNZ LYT
- TaurangaCargo pier 9.4 m, channel 14 m, container, ro-ro, breakbulk and bulkNZ TRG
- TimaruCargo pier 7.9 m, channel 9.4 m, container, breakbulk and bulkNZ TIU
- WellingtonCargo pier 11.1 m, channel 11.3 m, container, ro-ro, breakbulk and bulkNZ WLG
- WhangareiCargo pier 4.9 m, channel 7.9 m, container, ro-ro, breakbulk and bulkNZ WRE
Also recorded in the World Port Index for New Zealand: Akaroa, Bluff Harbor, Collingwood, Napier, Picton, Tarakohe, Wanganui, Westport and Whangaroa.
Sources
- US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
- Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
- Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
- Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.