WELLINGTON -- China has become a top market for New Zealand's cheese exports, among more than 70 Kiwi cheese export destinations in the past year, according to the statistics department Stats NZ on Friday.

New Zealand had 784 million New Zealand dollar (477 million U.S. dollar) cheese exported to China, about 26 percent of its total cheese exports, in the 12 months to May 2023, statistics show.

China, Japan and Australia were the top three destinations during the cited period, it said.

The major cheese exports to China were fresh cheese, mainly mozzarella and cream cheese, and grated or powdered cheese, according to the statistical agency.

New Zealand's cheese exports rose 35 percent to 3 billion New Zealand dollars (1.8 billion U.S. dollars) in the 12 months to May 2023, compared with a year earlier, Stats NZ said.

Over the same period, cheese quantities exported rose 6.9 percent, and the average price per kilogram rose 26 percent, it said.

"Cheese has become an even more valuable export for New Zealand over the last year, reflecting the higher prices that are being experienced globally," Stats NZ's international trade manager Al Allen said.

Cheddar cheese made up 43 percent of total cheese exported and was the top category of cheese exported in the year to May 2023, Allen said.