New Zealand Q1 Current Account Deficit Close to Estimates

New Zealand's current account deficit widened to NZD 1.01 billion in the first quarter of 2026, up from NZD 0.71 billion in the same period the previous year, and was slightly smaller than market expectations of a NZD 1.03 billion gap. The goods balance recorded a NZD 0.09 billion deficit, swinging from a NZD 1.00 billion surplus in Q1 2025, as exports rose less than imports. The primary income deficit widened slightly to NZD 3.30 billion from NZD 3.27 billion, while the secondary income deficit increased to NZD 0.21 billion from NZD 0.19 billion. In contrast, the services surplus rose to NZD 2.59 billion, up from NZD 1.75 billion a year earlier, driven mainly by stronger growth in services exports and imports. Last year, the country recorded a current account deficit of NZD 16 billion.

New Zealand recorded a current account deficit of NZD 5.98 billion in the final quarter of 2025, narrowing from NZD 8.36 billion in the previous quarter but widening from a NZD 5.0 billion deficit a year earlier. The goods deficit remained broadly stable at around NZD 1.9 billion, in line with the same period last year. In contrast, the services deficit increased to NZD 194 million, up from NZD 75 million a year earlier. The primary income deficit widened significantly to NZD 3.67 billion from NZD 2.9 billion, while the secondary income deficit rose to NZD 227 million from NZD 110 million. On a seasonally adjusted basis, New Zealand’s current account deficit totalled NZD 16.3 billion in 2025, equivalent to 3.7% of GDP.

New Zealand posted a current account deficit of NZD 8.37 billion in Q3 2025, widening sharply from a NZD 1.30 billion shortfall in the previous quarter and above market expectations. The goods balance shifted back into a deficit of NZD 3.44 billion from a NZD 2.64 billion surplus a quarter earlier, while the services account deficit widened to NZD 1.78 billion from NZD 1.02 billion. Meanwhile, the primary income deficit widened to NZD 2.99 billion from NZD 2.56 billion, and the secondary income gap narrowed to NZD 0.15 billion from NZD 0.36 billion. On an annual basis, the current account deficit for the year ended September 30, 2025, stood at NZD 15.4 billion, improving from NZD 21.9 billion in the year ended September 30, 2024. Overall, the data point to a marked improvement in New Zealand’s external position on an annual basis, despite a significant deterioration at the quarterly level driven by weaker trade balances.