New Zealand Balance of Trade

Last Release

Oct 31, 2025

Actual

-1,542

Units In

NZD Million

-1,384

Frequency

Monthly

Next Release

Dec 18, 2025

Time to Release

27 Days 0 Hours

Highest	Lowest	Average	Date Range	Source
1,350.34 Apr 2020	-2,625 Aug 2022	-103.52 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’s trade deficit narrowed to NZD 1.5 billion in October 2025 as export growth outpaced imports down from NZD 1.65 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports rose 16% to NZD 6.5 billion, supported by milk powder, butter and cheese which increased 18% to NZD 2,096 million and by fruit which rose 45%. Exports to China were up 18%, to Australia up 14%, to the United States up 5.4%, to the European Union up 40% and to Japan up 7.5%. Imports rose 11% to NZD 8.0 billion, led by higher petroleum and products, fertilisers, mechanical machinery and electrical machinery. Imports from China increased 29%, from Australia 6.8%, while imports from the United States fell 15% and from South Korea fell 19%. For the year to October 2025 annual goods exports were NZD 79.4 billion, annual goods imports were NZD 81.6 billion and the annual trade deficit narrowed to NZD 2.3 billion from NZD 9.1 billion in the year ended October 2024.