New Zealand Balance of Trade

Last Release

Mar 31, 2025

Actual

970

Units In

NZD Million

392

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

May 20, 2025

Time to Release

27 Days 19 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
1,350.34 Apr 2020	-2,625 Aug 2022	-101.55 NZD Million	1951-2025	Statistics New Zealand

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.

Latest Updates

New Zealand posted a trade surplus of $970 million in March 2025, more than doubling the $476 million surplus recorded in the same month last year. Exports surged 19% year-over-year to $7.6 billion, fueled by strong demand for key commodities like: milk powder, butter, and cheese (+35%), meat and edible offal (+34%), fruit (+74%), and mechanical machinery and equipment (+50%). Imports grew at a slower pace, rising 12% to $6.6 billion. The increase was led by petroleum and related products (+18%), electrical machinery and equipment (+27%), mechanical machinery and equipment (+11%), and pharmaceutical products (+42%). Exports to major trading partners also saw notable gains, rising 23% to China, 22% to the US, 51% to the EU, and 11% to Japan, while exports to Australia slipped 0.5%. On the import side, New Zealand recorded increases from the US (48%), the EU (19%), China (14%), and Australia (5.2%), but a 12% decline in imports from South Korea.