New Zealand Trade Deficit Shrinks

2026-02-19 21:50 By Felipe Alarcon 1 min. read

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%.



News Stream
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
New Zealand’s Trade Deficit Narrows in November
New Zealand’s trade deficit narrowed to NZD 163 million in November 2025 from NZD 450 million in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 9.2% to NZD 7 billion, due to milk powder, butter (5.9%), Kiwifruit (29%), Apple (29%), Precious metal (106%). Exports to to Australia were up 31%, to the European Union up 51% and to Japan up 1.9%. Imports rose 4.4% to NZD 7.2 billion, led by higher petroleum and products, mechanical machinery and equipment, vehicles, part and accessories and aircraft and parts. Imports from China increased 1.7%, from the EU 17%, the US 36% and South Korea 20%.
2025-12-18