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New Zealand's apparel imports ease down to $101 mn in Jan 2026

27 Feb '26

3 min read

New Zealand's apparel imports ease down to $101 mn in Jan 2026

Pic: Shutterstock.com

Insights

New Zealand's apparel imports fell ***.* per cent YoY in January 2026 as retailers maintained cautious sourcing and inventory discipline. Both knitted and woven garment shipments declined, while apparel exports also softened. In contrast, textile fabric imports and knitted fabric exports grew strongly. The trend signals weaker apparel trade but resilient intermediate textile demand.

New Zealand’s apparel imports (HS ** and ** combined) declined to NZ$***.** million (~$***.* million) in January **** from NZ$***.** million in January ****, representing a *.* per cent year-on-year decrease. In volume terms, shipments fell to **.** million units from **.** million units, reflecting softer sourcing activity and continued inventory discipline among retailers.

Knitted apparel (HS **) imports declined to NZ$**.** million (~$**.* million) in January **** from NZ$**.** million in January ****, down *.* per cent year on year. Volumes also fell to **.** million units from **.** million units, suggesting weaker replenishment demand and continued emphasis on controlled inventory cycles across the retail segment.