Kiwifruit giant Zespri is forecasting exports will be down by 18 percent this season.

Due to a combination of floods, extreme weather and a labour shortage, Zespri predicts the kiwifruit output will be roughly 30 million trays less than 2022.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says the kiwifruit industry has had a rough 2023, but there's light in the end of the tunnel in the form of supply and demand and labour returning to the industry.

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