Emirates SkyCargo is reporting a surge in demand for premium New Zealand exports as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and New Zealand officially comes into force.

The agreement is opening new doors for Kiwi producers, with Emirates SkyCargo at the forefront, facilitating fast, reliable access to the UAE and beyond.

Emirates SkyCargo said high-quality Kiwi products from Christchurch crayfish and Hawke's Bay lamb to Central Otago cherries and Auckland orchids are gaining ground in Middle Eastern markets.

With CEPA eliminating tariffs and streamlining customs procedures, volumes of these premium exports are expected to continue rising.

Emirates operates two daily flights between New Zealand and Dubai using its iconic A380 aircraft, a direct daily service from Auckland and a daily service from Christchurch via Sydney.

In addition to its daily passenger aircraft, Emirates also flies two freighters into Auckland Airport weekly, giving Kiwi importers and exporters up to 600 tonnes of premium freight capacity every week. 

One of the clearest examples of this growing opportunity is NZ Bloom, a specialist exporter of fresh-cut flowers.

Emirates SkyCargo noted that the company has seen demand for its New Zealand-grown orchids in Dubai increase by an average of 50% year-on-year over the past two seasons, making the UAE one of its fastest-growing markets globally.

"Approximately 90% of the orchids grown in New Zealand are sold to international markets, with the UAE one of the largest growing. Over two years, we've seen demand in Dubai double, which will only continue with the removal of import taxes. Dubai in particular is a major growth market for us, and the UAE is a real pillar to our business," said David Ballard, owner of NZ Blooms.

"Effective linkages from New Zealand to major cities around the world are absolutely critical. We can do as well as we want with the product, but if you don't have really good connections into lots of major cities, you will never be able to run a commercial business out of it. You need to be able to get this beautiful product in front of people really quickly to achieve that scale, which Emirates Sky Cargo has helped us do."

Ballard said flowers are also very temperature sensitive, and with Dubai's temperature, Emirates' cold storage chain is critical to keeping their product in great condition as it moves around the world.

Including its distribution of cut flowers to the UAE and further around the world, Emirates SkyCargo helps export nearly 10,000 tonnes of perishable goods from New Zealand every year.

Emirates SkyCargo connects New Zealand exporters to more than 145 destinations across six continents through its hub in Dubai.

Wayne Turkington, New Zealand Cargo Manager, at Emirates SkyCargo said the implementation of CEPA marks an exciting new chapter in trade between the UAE and New Zealand.

"22 years ago when Emirates SkyCargo first started operating in New Zealand, the UAE was New Zealand's 30th largest trading partner. Now we're up to 11," he said.

"The new agreement offers huge opportunities for this to only go up, with exporters able to build on volumes, and add more price competition against global competition."