Exporters

Go global with your local business

Is your business ready to provide an excellent export service to international markets? New Zealand businesses - like yours - that want to expand into overseas markets are passionate, driven and innovative. Scaling up often means competing on the international stage and New Zealand is known and respected for boxing well above its weight in international markets. Expanding into overseas markets is a complex exercise but BDO’s team of international business advisers is here to provide you with the expertise you need to succeed.

New Zealand exporters play a vital role in the New Zealand economy – and our experienced International Business Advisers are focused on helping your business grow. The total value of annual goods exported from New Zealand in the year ended December 2023 was $68.7 billion (source: Stats NZ). New Zealand’s leading exports remain dairy, meat, wood products, fruit, machinery, wine, fish and seafood – to our key markets in China, Australia and Europe. Whatever your chosen market, talk to us about the ways in which we can help navigate the common issues faced by New Zealand exporters.  

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Our international business advisers will smooth the transition

Expanding overseas is a complex exercise – from unfamiliar cultures to regulatory regimes to ensuring your business international tax structure is favourable, that you’re fully cognisant of the implications of cross border tax issues and establishing an effective financial reporting system that is relevant and accurate is integral to your successful growth journey. Our tax, advisory and China Business experts are on hand to assist you transition smoothly to offshore markets.
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Common issues faced by New Zealand Exporters:

Entering into export markets without getting professional advice could cause you to create a permanent establishment (PE) for your New Zealand business in a foreign jurisdiction. This means you may have foreign tax obligations without even being aware of them. It’s essential to understand the permanent establishment rules of any new jurisdiction before moving into their market. 

It’s vital to not only get transfer pricing right, but also to get it documented. Failure to do so could lead to significant penalties in New Zealand and offshore.

If you don’t structure your export activities properly, you may end up paying tax twice and not taking advantage of any Double Tax Agreements (DTAs) that may be available to you.

Exporting to overseas markets can be time-consuming and challenging. Having a credible local joint venture partner can help lessen the risks associated with entering another market. This is where our international business advisers can assist you. 

Exported products must meet the labelling and safety requirements of foreign markets to avoid losses and penalties when exporting. Another consideration is around product names, branding, and ingredients, and how appropriate these are in different markets. 

As exchange rates fluctuate between currencies, this can have a big impact on the money made or lost by exporters. Businesses may look to minimise this by agreeing prices with customers for daily shipments and working with their bank on forward exchange contracts.

COVID highlighted how exposed many businesses - and countries - are when supply chains are disrupted. Exporters should consider the various freight options available to them and how they could be impacted by local supply chain issues. From a product quality perspective, have a clear view of the end-to-end supply chain for your products, with a focus on product quality.

As part of becoming established in a new jurisdiction, businesses need to be aware of the potential indirect tax implications around GST and VAT. These taxes are growing in complexity and application and must be considered very early on in the exporting decision-making process. 

Globally, there is an increasing focus on tariffs at border control, with some countries imposing higher tariffs to raise the relative price of imported products above domestic goods. This is something exporters should factor in when considering price points and margins.  

Exporters can face financial challenges when it comes to securing loans to deliver on contracts. Some businesses seek assistance from the New Zealand Export Credit Office, which can support exporters and provide guarantees to banks to provide surety for deals. 

Take advantage of BDO’s Global Network

Our goal is to ensure you receive seamless service throughout the BDO network, and that you are looked after as you embark upon a new chapter in your business. We can put you in touch with BDO advisers working across the globe. BDO's global network extends across more than 160 countries, with over 110,000 people working out of over 1700 offices.

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Meet our team

Phillip Roth

Phillip Roth

National ESG and Sustainability Sector Leadership Team, Business Advisory Partner
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Rachel Shoebridge

Rachel Shoebridge

National Healthcare Sector Leader, Advisory Partner
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