Exporters upbeat: Survey

Exporters upbeat: Survey

The lift in exporters' confidence for the upcoming year is about 25 per cent better than last year according to our Export New Zealand survey in November, says Catherine Lye, Export NZ Auckland's executive officer.

That's in spite of the high and volatile dollar, she said

"Last year just over half of respondents (51.8 per cent) were upbeat; this year 63 percent are more confident.

"Exporters are planning to employ more people too. Last year just 35 per cent said they would be taking on more staff; this year this 45 per cent say they plan to.

"The stand out obstacle to growing exports faster this year, exporters are telling us, is due to a lack of export skills and market knowledge.

"This is their number 2 concern. It's huge, almost rivaling exchange rate issues in importance.

"Another finding this year is the focus for smaller exporters appears to be shifting to ASEAN countries, which is now the second most important region after Australia, one place ahead of China.

"Our national exporters survey this year included 217 companies with most (190) employing less than 150 staff."

ends

© Scoop Media