# Question 62: I run a small manufacturing business that exports and employs staff. We are considering new equipment but worry about demand, freight costs and finding skilled workers. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties' energy and fuel policies affect businesses making and moving goods? Collected 23 October 2026 [NZ Election 2026 · Edition 5 study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/5) ## ChatGPT Answer ID: c3130a10-b203-4e18-b751-722217a54528 # New Zealand election 2026: What energy and fuel policies mean for manufacturers For a small New Zealand manufacturer that exports goods, employs staff and is considering new machinery, energy policy is about more than the price at the petrol pump. It affects your production costs, freight bills, investment decisions and ability to deliver orders profitably. New Zealand's general election is scheduled for 7 November 2026. As of 23 October, the main parties have different approaches to electricity affordability, fuel taxation, energy supply and the transition to cleaner energy. Their proposals are not yet guaranteed outcomes: implementation will depend on the election result, legislation, budgets and any coalition agreements. [2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand](https://www.bdo.nz/en-nz/insights/new-zealand/what-could-the-2026-nz-general-election-mean-for-your-business)[The politics of power: Comparing energy policies ahead of Election 2026](https://minterellison.co.nz/insights/the-politics-of-power-comparing-energy-policies-ahead-of-election-2026) ## 1. The four business costs to watch ![Home | Switchbuild](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/sSBYgCIiRwx6uCvn9qYgw-Ii0V_NMpZZVt2An3nZPwgqwWlHnklPySckkgDr-cFZJyCqMuvGwB5VynbBRkEEnPPqh3ocG8EcknBgLrd6qd3bqgRtDVTIurRZNZGkJqgc4YhA6y6Wqur3xDXlENW4eCTehFuEFHRhW4NwQGa2lkI?purpose=inline) Electricity and production Electricity prices affect the cost of running motors, compressors, refrigeration, heating and other equipment. More affordable, reliable power could improve margins and make investment in new machinery easier to justify. ![International Shipping Lines, Container Shipping, Cargo Services | ZIM](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/lZTb6k8NF_ipjZSTkIwkHSBwWSENpcxT2w_oYDyUSbnUWUTudCpC22LRmsGi8bglmODWfO5ZCzdJjj4Dq_0VjPTXIiqd5s4zKaDwZB8Kpuh8eceL94Y552QvMD5-bGJbTQIplrD6bZg22VteFbPRk1BrEgNV1iEbvp3WyWB9e7Y?purpose=inline) Fuel and freight Diesel costs feed into road transport, distribution and many domestic delivery contracts. Fuel taxes, global oil prices and freight-sector competition all matter. A cut in fuel tax does not guarantee an equivalent reduction in the price your carrier charges. ![Work begins on Bledisloe North wharf under $200m Auckland port upgrade](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/e8r0LHC6ojPACDKMWfnv2iWOONm0NjUC9bGGbt5lb8l2OVjnidF45fI6EA5s9FmLGhyvN0QnUO2J5DdXTSghQiSpHf-uxV90I51-Tdm5FSyXZv02ITDOhJogS1zUE6AEMUnE1zDXg5P-Uc8pa7Q75VM-20WuHHjixL8114CsvEg?purpose=inline) Export competitiveness International shipping rates, port charges, exchange rates and overseas demand can outweigh changes to domestic fuel costs. Energy policy can help control the local part of your cost base, but cannot eliminate global freight volatility. ![Opportunities in recovery from crisis | McKinsey](https://images.openai.com/static-rsc-4/m6CuQ-9Z7S6xoJ0X7BuIMdy1THDRBaIVEq3jnX0yIc6SIzk3FPuO19QRjJ9KtaKKnLiZaVh_kbxT1xBOZX8_ukfi0y1iiYkFfbTZ0DvLt3in8bydCyvJ4WZjmuse2W09ah7xD8QY_aO7oH0_iLoA1UNweWxejma84WDr0RP3qss?purpose=inline) Investment and skilled labour Electrifying processes or installing energy-efficient equipment may reduce running costs, but can require substantial upfront capital and specialised technicians. Policies affecting energy infrastructure, training and workforce supply therefore matter alongside electricity prices. ## 2. How the main parties' policies compare The table below focuses on announced policies relevant to your manufacturing and exporting business, rather than trying to rank parties overall. | Party | Energy and fuel approach | Potential effect on your business | | --- | --- | --- | | National | More electricity generation, faster connections, competition and backup supply. | Aims to improve power affordability and reliability over time, which could help with machinery investment and production planning. | | Labour | Freeze fuel excise tax for three years; SolarSaver loans and support for renewable energy; action against alleged price gouging in fuel and electricity. | Could ease some fuel-cost pressure and offer a route to solar investment, although the fuel-tax freeze does not control global oil prices. | | Green Party | Publicly owned renewable energy company, Kiwipower, more renewable generation and zero-interest clean-energy loans. | Aims for affordable, more secure renewable power. The effects on industrial electricity bills would depend on implementation and how quickly new capacity comes online. | | ACT | Market-led investment, faster electricity connections, fewer barriers to new generation and support for domestic gas exploration and LNG backup. | Seeks to increase energy supply through private investment. The timing and extent of any reduction in your actual electricity costs remain uncertain. | | New Zealand First | More domestic energy exploration and a proposed Marsden Point special economic zone focused on energy, maritime activity and exports. | Could create opportunities in energy-related industry and Northland logistics if implemented, but the benefits to manufacturers elsewhere would be indirect and depend on investment and delivery. | Sources: party policy announcements from National Party, New Zealand Labour Party, Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand, ACT New Zealand and New Zealand First. [Affordable power Kiwis can rely on](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/electrify-nz-2)[Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[Power for all of us](https://www.greens.org.nz/power_for_all_of_us)[ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/abundant-and-affordable-electricity)[Policy Announcement: Marsden Point Special Economic Zone](https://www.nzfirst.nz/policy_announcement_marsden_point_special_economic_zone) ### What the differences mean in practice ### National: more supply and faster connections National's Electrify NZ 2.0 plan includes speeding up grid connections, reducing barriers to renewable projects and improving backup supply for periods when hydro generation is constrained. It also proposes changes to electricity network regulation. For you: Relevant if electricity is a major production expense, your factory needs a larger connection, or power interruptions disrupt delivery schedules. The key question is how much these changes would reduce your actual tariff, not just wholesale prices. [Affordable power Kiwis can rely on](https://www.national.org.nz/policies/electrify-nz-2)[2026 Election Policy](https://www.national.org.nz/policies) ### Labour: direct fuel-tax relief and energy support Labour proposes freezing fuel excise tax for three years. It estimates average family savings of $520 a year by 2030; that is a household estimate, not a forecast of savings for a manufacturing business. Labour also proposes government-backed, low-interest SolarSaver loans and measures to address fuel and electricity overcharging. For you: A fuel-tax freeze may help if your business buys petrol or diesel directly, and could benefit freight operators too. The value to your business depends on fuel consumption, which fuels are covered, and how much any tax change flows through to freight rates. SolarSaver's published headline benefits focus mainly on households, so check what support your business would actually qualify for. [Labour's Cost of Living Plan](https://www.labour.org.nz/election-policy-pages/2026-election-policy-summary-pages/cost-of-living-plan/)[Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy) ### Greens: public investment in renewable energy The Greens propose establishing Kiwipower to invest in renewable generation and backup capacity, alongside community energy projects and clean-energy finance. The party's stated objective is to improve affordability, energy security and the renewable transition. For you: This approach is relevant if you want more predictable long-term electricity costs or intend to electrify production. The main uncertainties are the cost of the transition, the pace of new generation and how quickly benefits would reach industrial customers. [Green Party launches plan to cut power bills and take power back from the big energy companies](https://www.greens.org.nz/green_party_launches_plan_to_cut_power_bills_and_take_power_back_from_the_big_energy_companies)[Power for all of us](https://www.greens.org.nz/power_for_all_of_us) ### ACT: investment incentives and market competition ACT wants to make it easier for private investors to build electricity generation and transmission, improve connection options, and enable more competition in energy supply. It also supports domestic oil and gas exploration and gas as a backup energy source. For you: If your business needs dependable power for new equipment, the focus on expanding supply and reducing connection delays is pertinent. Whether it lowers your costs depends on the projects built, network charges, reliability and the prices offered to your business. [ACT New Zealand](https://www.act.org.nz/abundant-and-affordable-electricity)[Gas and the 2026 NZ election: where the parties stand](https://sustainabilitypartners.co.nz/insights/gas-and-the-2026-election) ### New Zealand First: domestic energy and Marsden Point NZ First proposes more domestic subsurface exploration and a special economic zone around Marsden Point and Northport, with a focus on energy, maritime activity and exports. Its proposal includes possible regulatory relief and investment incentives. For you: The industrial and port development proposal may matter if you are connected to Northland supply chains or maritime services. For exporters elsewhere, any benefit is less direct. New energy exploration also involves uncertainty over discoveries, development costs and timing. [Policy Announcement: Marsden Point Special Economic Zone](https://www.nzfirst.nz/policy_announcement_marsden_point_special_economic_zone)[Gas and the 2026 NZ election: where the parties stand](https://sustainabilitypartners.co.nz/insights/gas-and-the-2026-election) ## 3. Fuel supply is different from fuel prices This distinction matters for manufacturers that cannot simply stop deliveries when costs rise. The current government's Fuel Response Plan provides a contingency framework for a severe, prolonged disruption to petrol or diesel supplies. Its revised approach prioritises supply measures and voluntary fuel-saving plans earlier; restrictions and priority access would be considered only at the most serious stage. Food and freight operators would have specified access arrangements under that stage, while other commercial users could face higher fuel-saving requirements. [Flexibility, adaptability key to Fuel Response Plan](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260511-honnicolawillis-fuel-response)[Flexibility, adaptability key to Fuel Response Plan](https://www.national.org.nz/news/20260511-honnicolawillis-fuel-response) When comparing parties, consider two separate questions: - Price: What would affect the fuel cost per kilometre, per delivery or per exported unit? - Security: What would happen if diesel or another essential fuel became difficult to obtain? A tax freeze addresses part of the first question. Domestic production, import arrangements, storage and emergency planning address parts of the second. Neither approach can remove New Zealand's exposure to global oil prices and international shipping disruptions. ## 4. How to assess a new equipment purchase Because you are worried about demand as well as costs, it is worth stress-testing an equipment purchase against several possible policy outcomes rather than assuming any party's promises will automatically materialise. | Business question | What to examine | | --- | --- | | Will demand support the investment? | Confirmed export orders, customer forecasts, export-market conditions and the minimum production volume needed to break even. | | Will energy savings justify the cost? | Your electricity tariff, annual consumption, connection upgrade costs and the equipment's expected energy use. | | Will freight remain affordable? | Diesel surcharges, contract review clauses, shipping rates and the scope to consolidate shipments. | | Can you find the right staff? | Availability of qualified operators and technicians, training costs, apprenticeships and any relevant immigration settings. | | Can you cope with disruption? | Backup power, fuel contingency plans, delivery alternatives and working-capital reserves. | One additional point: energy policy is only part of the skilled-worker issue. Labour has announced an expansion of Apprenticeship Boost and other employment measures, while other parties have different approaches to training, immigration and employment regulation. These policies deserve a separate comparison if your equipment purchase depends on recruiting specialised staff. [Labour's 2026 Election Policies](https://www.labour.org.nz/policy)[2026 General Election Policies: What they could mean for businesses | New Zealand](https://www.bdo.nz/en-nz/insights/new-zealand/what-could-the-2026-nz-general-election-mean-for-your-business) ## 5. Questions to ask before deciding how to vote For your business, the most useful distinctions are: - Immediate relief versus long-term supply: Is your biggest exposure diesel costs this year, or electricity affordability and reliability over the next five to ten years? - Lower taxes versus lower operating costs: Would a fuel-tax change materially affect your own bills, or is your bigger cost embedded in freight contracts and power tariffs? - Energy transition versus energy security: Does your production process need gas or diesel, or could it economically switch to electricity? - Policy promises versus deliverability: Is there a published implementation plan, funding commitment and timeframe that fits your investment horizon? You do not need to agree with a party's entire platform to examine whether its proposed energy settings fit your business risks. And you should distinguish the party's stated objective from the eventual effect on your company's actual costs. For a more specific comparison, I can compare parties on manufacturing investment and skilled-worker policies or model how fuel and electricity changes affect my costs ## Gemini Answer ID: a95c77d3-3955-41c9-a19c-cb3b94f879e1 Running a small manufacturing business that deals with export logistics, staffing, and heavy machinery means that energy and fuel policies directly hit your bottom line. In the 2026 general election, the major political parties offer sharply contrasting approaches to how power is generated, how fuel is priced and supplied, and how supply chains and freight are managed. The main political blocs approach these issues through distinct economic and environmental philosophies: --- ### 1. Electricity Supply and Industrial Power Costs For a manufacturer, grid reliability and electricity pricing dictate the cost of running machinery. Parties are divided on how to fix structural issues in the electricity market (such as the "gentailer" model where companies control both generation and retail): * **National & ACT:** Focus on market-led supply and deregulation. National’s approach leans toward scaling up renewable generation capacity (e.g., *Electrify NZ* framework) and streamlining resource management laws to bring new generation online faster, avoiding structural breakups of power companies. ACT strongly opposes state market interventions like breaking up gentailers, arguing that increasing supply through deregulation and opening up resource development is the best way to lower prices organically. * **Labour, Greens, & NZ First:** Propose heavier market interventions to curb electricity costs for end-users. New Zealand First has campaigned heavily on a Telecom-style structural split of the major gentailers to separate generation from retail pricing. The Greens (*Power for all of us*) and Labour emphasize scaling up distributed generation (like rooftop and community solar with low-interest financing) and addressing spot-market volatility that hurts industrial consumers during dry-year energy crunches. ### 2. Fuel, Oil, Gas, and Transport Freight Moving goods to ports and across the country ties your business directly to transport and liquid fuel costs: * **National, ACT, & NZ First (Centre-Right / Coalition-aligned):** Generally prioritize lower immediate transport costs and supply security for logistics. ACT and National push for relaxing restrictions on oil and gas exploration to secure domestic fuel feedstocks. NZ First has historically advocated for aggressive interventions in fuel security, including investigating the viability of domestic refining capabilities. Their road-centric infrastructure funding models focus heavily on maintaining and expanding state highways to keep freight moving efficiently. * **Labour, Greens, & Te Pāti Māori (Centre-Left):** Emphasize a faster transition away from fossil fuels, aiming for long-term structural insulation from global oil shocks. They support reinstating bans on offshore oil and gas exploration and shifting heavy and light commercial fleets toward electrification and low-emissions tech. While this aims to green supply chains over the next decade, critics argue it can introduce short-term cost pressures for freight operators transitioning heavy transport fleets. ### 3. Intersection with Equipment Investment If you are weighing up new equipment alongside your energy concerns, note that capital-expenditure incentives intersect with these policies: * **National** has promoted schemes like **Investment Boost** (allowing businesses to write off a portion of new asset and machinery costs), which can offset the capital outlay of upgrading to energy-efficient manufacturing equipment. * Other parties offer alternative business support, such as expanded **R&D tax credits** for high-tech manufacturing or targeted green-transition loans for industrial machinery upgrades. --- ### Summary Checklist for Your Vote When deciding where to cast your ballot, consider which risk weighs heavier on your business model: 1. **Short-term relief vs. long-term transition:** Do you prefer policies focused on increasing fossil fuel exploration and roading infrastructure to immediately check freight and energy spikes (Centre-Right), or policies subsidizing rapid electrification, renewables, and systemic market interventions to insulate you from global oil volatility (Centre-Left)? 2. **Market structure:** Do you favor breaking up major power generators to force lower industrial electricity pricing (NZ First/Greens), or trusting deregulation and resource consenting reform to build more generation capacity (National/ACT)? Are you leaning more toward securing immediate relief on your current fuel and power bills, or are you looking to future-proof your manufacturing operations against long-term carbon and energy transitions? ## Google AI Mode Answer ID: 72de749d-1fda-44ef-90be-c9b76a2f6fe3 **Political parties’ energy and fuel policies directly shape a manufacturing business's core overheads—influencing electricity pricing, natural gas security, transport and freight expenses, and the capital costs of upgrading machinery.** As a manufacturer balancing tight margins, export competitiveness, and workforce pressures, the divergence between party approaches centers on how they manage electricity supply, fossil fuel transition, and freight-related fuel charges. * * * Key Policy Impact Areas for Manufacturers 1\. Electricity Supply, Cost, and Grid Security * * **Right-of-Center / Market-Led Approaches (e.g., National’s** [Electrify NZ](https://electrify.nz/) **framework):** Typically focus on cutting red tape for renewable generation build-out (such as wind, solar, and geothermal), lifting bans or restrictions on oil/gas exploration to stabilize peak energy supply, and requiring heavy new energy users (like large-scale data centres) to bring or build firmed power rather than straining existing industrial grids. [MinterEllisonRuddWatts] * **Center-to-Left / Interventionist & Public-Led Approaches (e.g., Green Party and Labour-aligned policies):** Emphasize direct state or targeted market intervention, community and commercial solar/battery incentives, strict decarbonisation timelines, and managing phase-outs of fossil-fuel reliance in industrial heat. * **Impact on Your Business:** If you are looking to install modern, power-hungry machinery (e.g., CNC equipment, automated lines, or electric kilns), your baseline unit cost for electricity and the risk of dry-year spot price spikes depend on how quickly new generation comes online and whether gas is retained as a firming fuel to keep power affordable. * 2\. Natural Gas Access and Industrial Heat * * **The Gas Dilemma:** Many New Zealand manufacturers rely on natural gas for high-heat industrial processes where direct electrification is technically difficult or currently cost-prohibitive. * **Divergent Stances:** Some parties propose reopening exploration or extending gas availability to prevent premature factory closures and soaring input costs, while others push for accelerated electrification and strict carbon caps on industrial process heat. [New Zealand Green Building Council] * **Impact on Your Business:** If your manufacturing process uses gas, policies that restrict supply without a viable, affordable industrial electric alternative can spike your operating costs or force expensive process redesigns. * 3\. Freight, Transport, and Fuel Levies * * **Road User Charges (RUCs) & Fuel Excise:** Parties split on how to fund national transport infrastructure—whether through traditional fuel excises, expanded RUCs for electric/hybrid fleets, or targeted user-pays models for heavy freight. * **Decarbonising Freight:** Policies encouraging the uptake of zero-emission heavy trucks or biofuel blends interact directly with your shipping and logistics budgets. * **Impact on Your Business:** Moving raw materials in and finished export goods out means freight is a major line item. Subsidies or mandates for green fleets can reduce long-term emissions compliance costs, whereas higher fuel taxes or road pricing immediately inflate your cost-to-deliver. * 4\. Equipment Upgrades and Capital Incentives * * **Transition Finance:** Several party platforms feature co-funding, low-cost financing, or accelerated depreciation/grants to help businesses and households adopt energy-efficiency upgrades, solar arrays, or battery storage. * **Impact on Your Business:** When evaluating new machinery, check whether a party's policy includes **clean-tech capital allowances** or energy-audit grants that lower the upfront hurdle of retrofitting your shop floor. [MinterEllisonRuddWatts] * * * * Comparative Policy Overview Policy Area| Market-Focused / Center-Right Approach| State-Supported / Center-Left Approach| Manufacturer Impact ---|---|---|--- **Electricity Generation**| Streamlining consenting for renewables; market-driven firmed power rules.| Direct state/regulatory guidance, public-backed renewable builds.| Affects stability and peak pricing of industrial electricity. **Natural Gas Availability**| Permitting/extending gas exploration to buffer industrial heat.| Phasing down gas in favor of rapid industrial electrification.| Determines continuity and cost of high-heat manufacturing. **Freight & Transport**| Road-focused infrastructure investment, balanced RUC frameworks.| Emission reduction targets for heavy transport, mode-shift incentives.| Dictates shipping overheads and vehicle fleet transition expenses. **Business Tech Upgrades**| General tax settings and targeted efficiency facilitation.| Subsidised green transition and electrification funds for firms.| Changes the ROI and capital cost of buying new machinery. Detailed policy breakdowns can be explored via the MinterEllisonRuddWatts Election 2026 Energy Policy Snapshot and sector feedback through the New Zealand Green Building Council Policy Snapshot . * * * Quick Tips for Manufacturing Voters * * **Calculate your energy intensity:** Energy and freight make up vastly different percentages of overhead depending on whether you run light assembly or heavy processing. * **Watch transition timelines:** Abrupt fossil fuel restrictions without mature commercial alternatives hit regional manufacturers hardest. * If you'd like to narrow this down, tell me: * What primary energy source does your factory use most (electricity, gas, or liquid fuels)? * Is your biggest cost pressure **electricity unit prices** , **long-haul freight** , or **capital to buy new machines**? ## AI Overviews Answer ID: 74af64d5-4dc1-402f-8404-98915bf161bd For a small manufacturing and exporting business, energy and fuel policies directly dictate your overheads, supply chain stability, and capital expenditure risks. As you look ahead to the **November 2026 New Zealand General Election** , political parties are sharply divided on how they intend to handle energy security and moving freight. Here is how the major parties' platforms impact your manufacturing operations (making goods) and freight logistics (moving goods). * * * Making Goods: Capital Upgrades & Energy Security Upgrading to new equipment requires predictable energy pricing and grid reliability. * **National (Governing): Focus on Supply & Deregulation** National’s _Electrify NZ 2.0_ plan aims to tackle power bills by cutting red tape through Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms to boom renewable energy generation. For businesses, they plan to mandate lines companies to approve small-business solar connections within two working days with automatic compensation. To secure the grid during dry years, they lean toward market-driven backstops like an LNG import facility. * **Labour (Opposition): Direct Partnering & Cost Bans** Labour advocates for a heavy state role to fix power prices. They plan to partner directly with businesses to fund electrification and introduce a law making corporate "price gouging" illegal. They oppose LNG imports, pushing instead for state-led renewable storage, demand flexibility, and their _SolarSaver_ initiative to ease upfront grid pressure. * **ACT & NZ First (Coalition Partners): Traditional Resource Security** ACT focuses strictly on user-pays infrastructure and commercial discipline. NZ First seeks to boost energy security by splitting up the current power "gentailers" and aggressively surveying offshore basins for new domestic oil and gas supplies. * **Greens (Opposition): State-Owned Clean Energy** The Greens want to create _Kiwipower_ , a new, publicly-owned power company tasked with rapidly building renewable infrastructure to bypass the commercial market. They also plan to establish a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund. Moving Goods: Freight Costs & Infrastructure Because New Zealand relies heavily on road transport to get manufactured items to ports, fuel taxes and road maintenance heavily influence your margins. Policy Focus| National / ACT / NZ First| Labour / Greens ---|---|--- **Roading & Trucks**| Prioritize the National Land Transport Fund purely for **road infrastructure and maintenance**. National opposes a fuel excise tax in the next term.| Shift funding focus toward **mass rapid transit and regional rail networks** to pull commuter congestion off existing highways. **Alternative Freight**| Keep heavy commercial diesel transport moving through **onshore fuel reserve mandates** and public-private funding models.| Heavily subsidize commercial electric vehicle (EV) or e-cargo options, aiming to **phase out fossil-fuel commercial fleets** entirely over a set timeline. * * * How This Affects Your Specific Business Concerns * **Considering New Equipment:** If you choose high-tech electric machinery, National's policies aim to fast-track your ability to supplement it with your own commercial solar. Labour's approach offers more direct government-partnered transition funding but carries the risk of stricter building and environmental performance regulations. * **Freight Costs:** National’s commitment to freeze fuel excise taxes provides short-term relief on diesel surcharges. Conversely, the Green and Labour platforms seek to lower long-term freight costs by moving heavy domestic cargo onto an expanded KiwiRail network, opening up congested highways for remaining trucks. * **Skilled Workers:** While not strictly an energy policy, a party's transport stance dictates worker mobility. Left-leaning policies heavily subsidize public transport (like Labour's $10–$20 weekly fare caps and the Greens' free fares for apprentices), which can widen your local hiring pool if your factory is near public transit lines. Right-leaning policies focus on training pipelines like the _Apprenticeship Boost_ and reducing road travel times through tolling and highway upgrades. To help narrow down which political direction aligns best with your operations, what is the **primary energy source** your factory uses now, and how heavily do **diesel fuel surcharges** impact your export margins?