What assessment, if any, has the Government received of the impact on New Zealand's trade and exports of disruption to shipping through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait?

Answer

For New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, none. For Invest New Zealand, none. I am advised that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has provided a brief assessment to the Government advising that the direct impact on New Zealand’s exports is expected to be limited. In response to a more uncertain security environment in the Middle East, major shipping operators used by New Zealand firms had already rerouted shipping away from the Red Sea well before the 2026 Iran conflict. However, the disruptions to shipping have added further volatility to global oil prices, affecting the cost of refined products such as fuel imported into New Zealand.