Plastic waste exports in New Zealand
New Zealand: Plastic waste exports was 27,275 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Plastic waste exports in New Zealand, 1989–2024
Source: United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, plastic waste exports in New Zealand stood at 27,275 tonnes.
The figure is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 43.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, plastic waste exports in New Zealand peaked at 55,480 tonnes in 2016 and was at its lowest, 286.25 tonnes, in 1990.
That places New Zealand 26th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Plastic waste exports in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 389.21 tonnes | — |
| 1990 | 286.25 tonnes | -26.5% |
| 1991 | 483.6 tonnes | +68.9% |
| 1992 | 1,163 tonnes | +140.5% |
| 1993 | 1,180 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 2,632 tonnes | +123.0% |
| 1995 | 3,505 tonnes | +33.2% |
| 1996 | 3,930 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1997 | 3,749 tonnes | -4.6% |
| 1998 | 4,706 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1999 | 7,282 tonnes | +54.7% |
| 2000 | 8,077 tonnes | +10.9% |
| 2001 | 9,242 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 2002 | 10,310 tonnes | +11.6% |
| 2003 | 15,495 tonnes | +50.3% |
| 2004 | 21,033 tonnes | +35.7% |
| 2005 | 23,990 tonnes | +14.1% |
| 2006 | 30,320 tonnes | +26.4% |
| 2007 | 33,298 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 2008 | 37,555 tonnes | +12.8% |
| 2009 | 40,520 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2010 | 39,420 tonnes | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 45,430 tonnes | +15.2% |
| 2012 | 44,248 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 42,518 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 48,223 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 2015 | 47,223 tonnes | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 55,480 tonnes | +17.5% |
| 2017 | 41,503 tonnes | -25.2% |
| 2018 | 36,776 tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2019 | 38,060 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 22,611 tonnes | -40.6% |
| 2021 | 20,353 tonnes | -10.0% |
| 2022 | 21,019 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2023 | 28,377 tonnes | +35.0% |
| 2024 | 27,275 tonnes | -3.9% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 27,275 tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,588 tonnes, 5.9× the median. (64 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 27,275 tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 277.15 tonnes, 98.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Plastic waste exports in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +140.5% | 483.6 tonnes | 1,163 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 389.21 tonnes | 389.21 tonnes | 389.21 tonnes | 1 |
| 1990s | 2,892 tonnes | 286.25 tonnes | 7,282 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 22,984 tonnes | 8,077 tonnes | 40,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 43,888 tonnes | 36,776 tonnes | 55,480 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,927 tonnes | 20,353 tonnes | 28,377 tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More environment data for New Zealand
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -0.2131 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 1.69 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.379 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.23 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0.1365 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -0.474 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.9337 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is plastic waste exports in New Zealand?
- Plastic waste exports in New Zealand was 27,275 tonnes in 2024, according to United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest plastic waste exports recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 55,480 tonnes in 2016.
- What is the lowest plastic waste exports recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 286.25 tonnes in 1990.
- How does New Zealand rank for plastic waste exports?
- New Zealand ranks 26th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is plastic waste exports rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 43.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Comtrade Database (2025); United Nations Comtrade Database (2023) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Plastic waste exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Amount of plastic waste a country exports to other countries, measured in tonnes per year.