Customs publishes our latest cargo clearance study
12.00pm 14 November 2025
The New Zealand Customs Service has published its latest Time Release Study (TRS), which looks at how quickly imports and exports are cleared in New Zealand.
The Study analysed Customs’ performance in moving cargo through our border, measuring the time taken for various events and procedures from when the goods first arrive in the country to its clearance or release. The study was conducted in the week 28 August to 3 September 2025.
Group Manager Trade, Revenue and Compliance, Craig Chitty, says the time taken for getting imports and exports released at major ports is crucial for our businesses and New Zealand’s economy.
If goods are reported to Customs correctly, they are cleared within seconds - most imports cleared for release before they even arrive in New Zealand and most exports cleared before departure. This year, 98.49% of transactions during the study were cleared within five minutes of lodgement.
“This year’s study reaffirms Customs’ strong performance, our findings from the last year, and gives industry confidence that Customs has efficient systems in place to ensure we can process cargo efficiently and quickly.”
“Customs is just one component in the supply chain and there are a myriad of factors affecting the international movement of cargo. By measuring our performance, we can establish a baseline of indicators, assess our effectiveness, and identify improvements which help grow the economy by not delaying the delivery of trade." says Craig.
View the Time Release Study 2025 [PDF, 1.15 MB]
By the numbers: Time Release Study
Customs used one weeks’ data from 12,039 import entries and 6,226 export entries across both sea and air cargo. The study also used data from industry partners involved in border clearance, including freight and air cargo companies.
- 86.24% of import entries for air cargo were lodged and cleared by Customs in advance of arrival into NZ, compared to 78.3% in the 2023 study.
- 95.35% of import entries for sea cargo full container load were lodged and cleared by Customs in advance of arrival into NZ, compared to 93.9% in the 2023 study.
- 89.28% of export entries for sea cargo full container load were lodged at least 48 hours before loading on the vessel for export, compared to 87.7% in the 2023 study.
