What exporting is
If you have a client overseas, you’re an exporter – even if you don’t sell physical things.
You are exporting if these factors are involved:
- goods or services going overseas
- a client
- money changing hands.
Examples of exporting are:
- teaching English on Zoom to someone in South America
- designing a house for someone in the United States
- translating a document and emailing your translation to someone in Asia
- selling your product on a New Zealand website with the option for worldwide shipping.
Examples of things that are not exporting are sending chocolate fish to your homesick Kiwi friend in London or taking samples of industrial pipe to a trade show.
Find out if exporting works for your business
Exporting means selling to overseas customers. You can export:
- physical goods that you manufacture
- services that you provide
You may already be exporting if you ship to overseas customers or provide services for international clients.
Benefits of exporting
Reaching overseas markets means you can:
- find more customers for your products or services
- increase production, which can unlock more efficient ways to create your products and lower costs per unit (economies of scale)
- spread your risks, so you can keep earning when the local economy slows
- learn from overseas customers and competitors.
Certain products fetch a higher price overseas, too. Some overseas markets see Kiwi products as premium. International customers may associate your products positively with New Zealand’s global brand.
But there are also costs to consider when exporting, and a few complexities to manage.
Talk to others before you start. Try joining a network of businesses in similar situations to you, or reach out to experienced exporters to start building that network yourself.
Businesses that may compete domestically can benefit from collaborating and sharing insights about international markets.
Make the most of government knowledge and support
Exporting can be a complex business, so make the most of government’s support for exporters.
Government experts at home and around the world have created a wealth of knowledge about different markets, regulations and financial systems to help New Zealand businesses find their way on the global stage.
As you prepare to export, find out what help is available from:
- New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE)
- Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
- New Zealand Customs Service (Customs)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
- New Zealand Export Credit (NZEC).
Plan how to distribute your products
Once you’re ready to export, you’ll need to navigate the world of shipping and distribution.
There's more to distribution than loading things into shipping containers. You’ll need to figure out how your products:
- get to and from the airport or seaport
- get from their destination country into the hands of customers
- pass through customs in other parts of the world.
How you distribute your goods and services will depend on your business. It could involve:
- putting parcels on planes
- establishing a physical shop overseas
- working with an agent or distributor in another country
- providing services electronically.
It’s a good idea to work with customs brokers or freight forwarders if you’re exporting physical products. They can take the complexity out of distribution, and make sure your products get to their destination market safely and securely.
What's next
Prepare for unexpected events
Health and safety
Intellectual property
IT risks and scams
Understanding customer complaints
Premises and assets
Operations strategy
Running a sustainable business
Manufacturing
Importing