New Zealand Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts

2026-04-19 23:15 By Chusnul Chotimah 1 min. read

New Zealand posted a NZD 0.70 billion trade surplus in March 2026, shifting from an NZD 0.79 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier and beating estimates of a NZD 0.18 billion surplus.

It marked the first trade surplus since last December, as both exports and imports increased.

Exports rose 7.3% year-on-year to a record high of NZD 7.94 billion, mainly boosted by higher sales of precious metals, jewellery & coins (166%) and fruits (24%).

Among trading partners, exports increased to China (11.1%), Australia (37.5%), Japan (4.1%), and the EU (14%).

Meanwhile, imports grew 9.6% yoy to NZD 7.25 billion in March 2026, mainly driven by higher purchases of mechanical machinery and equipment (31%) and vehicle parts and accessories (28%).

By source, imports rose from China (19.8%), South Korea (53.9%), Australia (26.5%), and the EU (17%).

However, for Q1, the country registered a NZD 0.29 billion deficit, with exports rising 2.5%, less than imports, which increased 7.6%.



News Stream
New Zealand Trade Surplus Beats Forecasts
New Zealand posted a NZD 0.70 billion trade surplus in March 2026, shifting from an NZD 0.79 billion deficit in the same month a year earlier and beating estimates of a NZD 0.18 billion surplus. It marked the first trade surplus since last December, as both exports and imports increased. Exports rose 7.3% year-on-year to a record high of NZD 7.94 billion, mainly boosted by higher sales of precious metals, jewellery & coins (166%) and fruits (24%). Among trading partners, exports increased to China (11.1%), Australia (37.5%), Japan (4.1%), and the EU (14%). Meanwhile, imports grew 9.6% yoy to NZD 7.25 billion in March 2026, mainly driven by higher purchases of mechanical machinery and equipment (31%) and vehicle parts and accessories (28%). By source, imports rose from China (19.8%), South Korea (53.9%), Australia (26.5%), and the EU (17%). However, for Q1, the country registered a NZD 0.29 billion deficit, with exports rising 2.5%, less than imports, which increased 7.6%.
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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