marine      cargo theft      Corporate insurance     

9 February 2026

Cargo theft and what this means for New Zealand businesses

Global trade underpins New Zealand’s economy. From primary exports heading offshore to imported goods supporting local industries, supply chains are critical to how businesses operate and grow. Yet as logistics networks become more complex, so too do the risks that threaten them.

One of the fastest-changing challenges facing businesses today is cargo theft. Once seen as an operational or transport issue, cargo theft has become a broader risk, affecting financial performance, reputational resilience and insurance outcomes across the supply chain.

For New Zealand businesses operating in global markets, this shift has important implications.

A changing threat landscape

Cargo theft has existed for as long as goods have been moved from one place to another. What has changed is how theft occurs and how sophisticated criminal activity has become.

“Today’s criminal networks are highly coordinated, fast-moving, and technologically sophisticated,” says Emma Macadie, Senior Broker – Marine.

Organised crime networks are increasingly exploiting digital tools, insider knowledge, and impersonation tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in modern supply chains. With technologies designed to improve efficiency such as real-time tracking, automated booking platforms, and digital documentation, also being leveraged to divert or intercept shipments without raising immediate suspicion. Global data highlights the scale of the problem, with losses in the U.S. alone reaching USD $35 billion in 2024, with a noticeable increase through 2025. 

Gallagher's global insights highlight that cargo theft is no longer confined to opportunistic losses at unsecured locations. Instead, it is often highly targeted, planned in advance, and designed to avoid detection until the cargo has already disappeared.

Common techniques now include:

• Impersonation of legitimate carriers or drivers
• Manipulation of booking and dispatch systems
• Use of forged documents and false collection orders
• Interference with tracking technology to obscure shipment movements

What this means for New Zealand businesses

While most global reporting of cargo theft focuses on North America and Europe, New Zealand businesses are not immune from the same threats. Our exporters, importers, freight forwarders and port operators are deeply connected to international supply chains, often involving multiple handovers across borders, time zones and jurisdictions.

When cargo theft occurs, the impact goes well beyond the value of the stole goods.

“Cargo theft has a ripple effect on how businesses operate, spend, and protect their reputation,” says Emma.

Delays are usually the first consequence of these thefts. Deliveries are pushed back, shipments are rerouted and supply chain commitments are broken. These disruptions can impact not just one company but an entire network of partners and customers.

Reputational risk follows closely. Clients and end customers may not distinguish between theft and operational failure, particularly when high-value or time-sensitive goods are involved.

Financial exposure can extend well beyond the immediate loss. Increased insurance deductibles, coverage disputes, uninsured losses and the cost of emergency replacements all add pressure to margins.

For organisations already navigating tight supply conditions and rising costs, cargo theft can be a significant stressor on resilience and growth.

Insurance continues to evolve

As criminal methods become more technologically driven, insurance responses are also shifting.

In some scenarios, such as losses involving digital interference, system manipulation, or fraudulent redirection, policy wordings, exclusions or sub-limits may materially affect recovery.

This makes it increasing import for business to:

• Understand how policies respond to modern theft methods
• Ensure insured values, routes and risk profiles are accurate
• Align insurance solutions with current operational realities

Regular reviews, particularly at renewal or following a loss help to avoid unexpected gaps.

Be proactive about risk management

The most resilient organisations take a proactive approach to cargo theft prevention.

Gallagher’s approach focuses on helping clients strengthen their risk posture through practical achievable measures that complement insurance protections. Effective strategies include:

• Stronger verification protocols: Multi-step authentication for divers and carriers
• Smart tracking: GPS, geofencing, and sensors for real-time activity
• Collaboration: Sharing intelligence with logistics partners and law enforcement
• Insurance reviews: Ensuring policies reflect current risks and routes
• Predictive analysis: Using data to anticipate theft hotspots and trends
• Team training: Empowering frontline staff to spot red flags and respond quickly

While no single measure eliminates risk entirely, these actions can significantly reduce exposure and improve outcomes when incidents occur.

Confidence in complex environments

Cargo theft is a reality of modern trade, and one that continues to evolve. For New Zealand businesses, the challenge is not only to protect goods in transit, but to safeguard trade relationships, reputation and long-term performance.

“Cargo theft is evolving quickly, but businesses don’t need to face that complexity alone. With the right insight and the right protections in place, organisations can stay ahead of emerging threats and protect what matters most,” said Emma.