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 Posts Largest Trade Surplus on Record
New Zealand's trade surplus widened to NZD 1.92 billion in April 2026, up from NZD 1.20 billion in the same month a year earlier, beating estimates of a NZD 0.98 billion surplus. It marked the largest trade surplus on record, as exports rose more than imports. Exports increased 7.3% year-on-year to NZD 8.6 billion, while imports rose 3.4% to NZD 6.7 billion.
2026-05-20
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%.
2026-04-19
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