New Zealand craft brewers are experiencing a surge in demand from China, as shifting global trade dynamics open up new export opportunities. The ongoing trade tensions between the United States and China have significantly increased the cost of American beer, clearing the way for New Zealand producers to gain a foothold in the world’s largest beer market.
“The most recent order is literally double in size,” said Dylan Adams, manager at Brothers Beer Brewery in Auckland. “It’s gone from one 40-foot container to two, and we get those orders pretty regularly.”
Chinese consumers, increasingly drawn to bold and high-alcohol craft beers, have shown a growing appetite for New Zealand’s boutique offerings. “They love big, hoppy beer; they love really high alcohol beer; and they love craft beer,” Adams added.
Other breweries across the country are also seeing an upswing. Taranaki-based Three Sisters brewery is preparing a significant shipment in the coming weeks. “The most recent order’s about 20,000 cans that we’ll be sending over next month, along with about 300 kegs as well,” said founder Joe Emans.
Emans noted that at least a dozen other New Zealand craft breweries are also exporting to China and are likely benefiting from the shifting market dynamics. While the U.S. and China have agreed to suspend certain tariffs for a 90-day period, uncertainty remains.
“I actually had a discussion with the distributor yesterday,” Emans said. “They were saying the uncertainty means they’ve got to make a plan, right? So let’s back New Zealand beer.”
The spike in demand comes at a crucial time for the sector, which has faced a downturn in domestic sales. “Probably from about February, March last year, they took quite a nose dive for all craft beer producers,” Adams explained.
Despite the short-term nature of current trade conditions, brewers remain hopeful that international interest in New Zealand craft beer will persist beyond the temporary easing of tariffs.
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