Legume bran, sharps and residues market in New Zealand, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2023, the market volume for legume bran, sharps and residues in New Zealand showed considerable variation. Starting at 64.9 t in 2018, it increased to 71.3 t in 2019 before declining over the next two years to a low of 50.0 t in 2021. A strong recovery followed, with the market reaching 56.4 t in 2022 and then expanding sharply to 85.3 t in 2023.

The market's significant growth in 2023 was largely due to a jump in imports, which rose to 43.7 t that year. This shift toward imported products is connected to the integration of large New Zealand milling companies with Australian counterparts, where cheaper Australian grain imports made foreign residues more competitive and increased total market supply.

Import volumes continued to rise, reaching 43.1 t in 2024 and 138.6 t in 2025, indicating a growing dependence on foreign supply. Factors such as freight costs and infrastructure challenges affected processing and distribution, while the strong arable sector, which generated $1.2 billion in direct sales, provided a consistent base for residue availability. The forestry sector's focus on increasing residue recovery also pointed to broader opportunities for utilizing industrial by-products.

Production legume bran, sharps and residues in New Zealand

In kind, 2018-2021, kg

Top producers of legume bran, sharps and residues, 2018-2021

World map of production of legume bran, sharps and residues, 2018-2021

New Zealand's production of legume bran, sharps, and residues has declined for the second year in a row. In 2021, the country produced 38 580 kg, which represents a 26.4% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2018 to 2021, production fell by 39.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 15.5%. The highest production level was recorded in 2019 at 71 250 kg. That year also saw the largest increase of 11.4%. The most significant decline occurred in 2020, dropping by 26.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, kg

Exports legume bran, sharps and residues from New Zealand

According to market research, there were no exports of legume bran, sharps, and residues from New Zealand between 2018 and 2021.

Imports legume bran, sharps and residues to New Zealand

Imports in kind, kg

In 2021, New Zealand imported 11 406 kg of legume bran, sharps, and residues, showing a sharp rise of 81.0% compared to the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, imports surged by 1171.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 133.4%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021, kg

From 2018 to 2021, the main sources for imports in kind were China, accounting for 36.7% of imports, Belgium with 34.0%, and Australia at 24.2%. Together, these three countries made up 94.9% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to New Zealand in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, $ US

In 2021, the value of legume bran, sharps, and residues imported into New Zealand reached 19 207 US dollars, marking a 42.9% increase from the year before. Between 2018 and 2021, import values grew by 1157.4%, which translates to an annualized rate of 132.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2021, $ US

During the 2018–2021 period, Belgium was the leading partner in import value terms, contributing 39.4%, followed by China at 25.7%, and Australia with 25.5%. Combined, these three countries accounted for 90.6% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to New Zealand in value, 2018-2021