New Zealand’s trade deficit shrank to NZD 257 million in February 2026 from NZD 444 million in the same month a year earlier and beating estimates for a NZD 740 million deficit. Exports rose 0.4% to NZD 6.6 billion, due to meat and edible offal (11%), precious metals, jewellery, and coins (63%), ships, boats, and floating structures (152%), albumins, gelatin, glues, and enzymes (42%). Exports to China were down 3.6%, to Australia up 2.0%, to the European Union up 15% and to Japan down 14%. Imports rose 12% to NZD 6.9 billion, led by higher electrical machinery and equipment, precious metals, jewellery, and coins, food residues, wastes, and fodder, and pharmaceutical products. Imports from China increased 15%, from the EU 16%, the US rose 5.4% and South Korea rose 79%. source: Statistics New Zealand

New Zealand recorded a trade deficit of 257 NZD Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in New Zealand averaged -106.43 NZD Million from 1951 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 1374.02 NZD Million in April of 2020 and a record low of -2634.14 NZD Million in August of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - New Zealand Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. New Zealand Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2026.

New Zealand recorded a trade deficit of 257 NZD Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in New Zealand is expected to be 270.00 NZD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the New Zealand Balance of Trade is projected to trend around -800.00 NZD Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-19 09:45 PM
Balance of Trade
Jan NZ$-0.519B NZ$-0.088B NZ$-0.745B NZ$-0.1B
2026-03-19 09:45 PM
Balance of Trade
Feb NZ$-0.257B NZ$-0.627B NZ$-0.74B NZ$0.4B
2026-04-19 10:45 PM
Balance of Trade
Mar NZ$-0.257B NZ$ 0.27B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -257.00 -627.00 NZD Million Feb 2026
Capital Flows 3689.00 5552.00 NZD Million Dec 2025
Current Account -5984.00 -8357.00 NZD Million Dec 2025
Current Account to GDP -3.70 -4.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 6630.00 6100.00 NZD Million Feb 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 2376.00 538.00 NZD Million Dec 2025
Imports 6890.00 6730.00 NZD Million Feb 2026
Terms of Trade 1593.00 1536.00 points Dec 2025
Tourism Revenues 4613.00 3300.00 NZD Million Dec 2025
Visitor Arrivals YoY 385426.00 502640.00 Jan 2026


New Zealand Balance of Trade
New Zealand is greatly dependent on international trade. New Zealand's economy has traditionally been based on a foundation of exports from its very efficient agricultural system: dairy products, meat, forest products, fruit and beverages. New Zealand imports mainly vehicles, machinery and equipment, petroleum, electronics, plastics and aircraft. Its main trading partners are: China, Australia, the US, Japan and South Korea.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-257.00 -627.00 1374.02 -2634.14 1951 - 2026 NZD Million Monthly

News Stream
New Zealand Trade Deficit Shrinks
New Zealand’s trade deficit shrank to NZD 257 million in February 2026 from NZD 444 million in the same month a year earlier and beating estimates for a NZD 740 million deficit. Exports rose 0.4% to NZD 6.6 billion, due to meat and edible offal (11%), precious metals, jewellery, and coins (63%), ships, boats, and floating structures (152%), albumins, gelatin, glues, and enzymes (42%). Exports to China were down 3.6%, to Australia up 2.0%, to the European Union up 15% and to Japan down 14%. Imports rose 12% to NZD 6.9 billion, led by higher electrical machinery and equipment, precious metals, jewellery, and coins, food residues, wastes, and fodder, and pharmaceutical products. Imports from China increased 15%, from the EU 16%, the US rose 5.4% and South Korea rose 79%.
2026-03-19
New Zealand Trade Deficit Shrinks
New Zealand’s trade deficit shrank to NZD 519 million in January 2026 from NZD 549 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 2.6% to NZD 6.2 billion, due to meat and edible offal (38%), precious metals, jewellery, and coins (88%), ships, boats, and floating structures (390%), albumins, gelatin, glues, and enzymes (67%). Exports to China were down 7.0%, to Australia up 20%, to the European Union up 16% and to Japan up 11%. Imports rose 1.9% to NZD 6.7 billion, led by higher vehicles, parts and accessories, electrical machinery and equipment, precious metals, jewellery, and coins, iron and steel and articles. Imports from China increased 24%, from the EU 5.6%, the US fell 17% and South Korea rose 36%.
2026-02-19
New Zealand Trade Surplus Widens
New Zealand’s trade balance swung to a NZD 52 million surplus in December 2025 from a NZD 36 million surplus in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 15.0% to NZD 7.7 billion, driven by milk powder, butter and cheese (up NZD 361m, +15%), meat and edible offal (up NZD 274m, +30%), precious metals (up NZD 223m, +172%) and aluminium (up 36%). Exports to Australia were up 26%, to the European Union up 31% and to Japan up 15%. Imports rose 15.0% to NZD 7.6 billion, led by higher electrical machinery and equipment, mechanical machinery and equipment, vehicles, parts and accessories, and petroleum and products. Imports from China increased 27%, from the EU 26%, the US fell 16% and South Korea rose 11%.
2026-01-28