Exporters begin to count cost of air chaos

Export New Zealand will today start counting the cost to local businesses of the huge disruption to flights into and out of Europe.

The organisation's executive director, Catherine Beard, said yesterday it was unclear what impact the disruption was having on exporters, but she was seeking information from members today.

"Exporters who have perishable goods they are airfreighting will be concerned," she said.

Importers Institute secretary Daniel Silva said he had heard of some concern among freight forwarders about the potential impact on pharmaceutical supplies, particularly from the closure of Luxembourg's airport, a crucial European cargo hub.

But the managing director for the New Zealand branch of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, Stuart Knight, said his company had a contract with the Government's drug-buying agency Pharmac to have at least 90 days' supply available in this country.

He said his company held an average inventory equivalent of 100 days of demand, and imported its products from Basel in Switzerland monthly, three months in advance.

Even so, he was keen to assess the forward supply situation this morning.

A Pharmac spokesman said the 90-day stockpile clause was a standard requirement for pharmaceutical supply contracts.

Flower exporter David Easton, of Auckland-based New Zealand Natural Exports, said his industry was luckily in its off-season. The next flower variety to be exported to Europe was orchids, which were not due to be air-freighted for another month.

South Island marine farming association representative Graeme Coates believed most fish exports to Europe went by sea rather than air.