New Zealand's trade surplus declined to NZD 0.8 billion in May 2026, down from NZD 1.1 billion in the same month a year earlier and slightly below estimates of NZD 0.875 billion, as exports rose less than imports. Exports grew 18.1% year-on-year to a record high of NZD 8.9 billion, mainly driven by higher sales of milk powder, butter, and cheese (6.9%), precious metals, jewellery, and coins (54.4%); meat and edible offal (42.8%), and fruit (11.2%). Among trading partners, exports to China rose 10.3%, while shipments to Australia, the US, Japan, and the EU increased by 32.9%, 28.7%, 30.8%, and 15.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, imports jumped 25.9% year-on-year to NZD 8.1 billion, mainly driven by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum products (up 104.1%), electrical machinery and equipment (18.5%), vehicles, parts, and accessories (36.6%). By source, imports rose from China (18.9%), Australia (20.0%), the US (17.9%), South Korea (78.7%), and the EU (15.0%). source: Statistics New Zealand

New Zealand recorded a trade surplus of 800 NZD Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in New Zealand averaged -103.06 NZD Million from 1951 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 1598.00 NZD Million in April of 2026 and a record low of -2634.14 NZD Million in August of 2022. This page provides the latest reported value for - New Zealand Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. New Zealand Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

New Zealand recorded a trade surplus of 800 NZD Million in May of 2026. Balance of Trade in New Zealand is expected to be -1170.00 NZD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the New Zealand Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 50.00 NZD Million in 2027 and 200.00 NZD Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-20 10:45 PM
Balance of Trade
Apr NZ$1.92B NZ$0.43B NZ$0.98B NZ$0.8B
2026-06-18 10:45 PM
Balance of Trade
May NZ$0.8B NZ$1.598B NZ$0.875B NZ$0.6B
2026-07-19 10:45 PM
Balance of Trade
Jun NZ$0.8B NZ$ 0.2B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 800.00 1598.00 NZD Million May 2026
Capital Flows -6107.00 2082.00 NZD Million Mar 2026
Current Account -1008.00 -5639.00 NZD Million Mar 2026
Current Account to GDP -3.70 -4.70 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Exports 8877.00 8268.00 NZD Million May 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 4029.00 2003.00 NZD Million Mar 2026
Imports 8077.00 6670.00 NZD Million May 2026
Terms of Trade 1561.00 1593.00 points Mar 2026
Tourism Revenues 7035.00 4617.00 NZD Million Mar 2026
Visitor Arrivals YoY 288546.00 358911.00 Apr 2026


New Zealand Balance of Trade
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.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
800.00 1598.00 1598.00 -2634.14 1951 - 2026 NZD Million Monthly

News Stream
New Zealand Trade Surplus Narrows in May
New Zealand's trade surplus declined to NZD 0.8 billion in May 2026, down from NZD 1.1 billion in the same month a year earlier and slightly below estimates of NZD 0.875 billion, as exports rose less than imports. Exports grew 18.1% year-on-year to a record high of NZD 8.9 billion, mainly driven by higher sales of milk powder, butter, and cheese (6.9%), precious metals, jewellery, and coins (54.4%); meat and edible offal (42.8%), and fruit (11.2%). Among trading partners, exports to China rose 10.3%, while shipments to Australia, the US, Japan, and the EU increased by 32.9%, 28.7%, 30.8%, and 15.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, imports jumped 25.9% year-on-year to NZD 8.1 billion, mainly driven by higher purchases of petroleum and petroleum products (up 104.1%), electrical machinery and equipment (18.5%), vehicles, parts, and accessories (36.6%). By source, imports rose from China (18.9%), Australia (20.0%), the US (17.9%), South Korea (78.7%), and the EU (15.0%).
2026-06-18
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 12% year-on-year to a record high NZD 8.6 billion, mainly driven by higher sales of precious metals, jewellery, and coins (149%); meat and edible offal (26%); milk powder, butter, and cheese (7.0%); and crude oil (388%). Among trading partners, exports grew to China (3.9%), Australia (27%), the US (19%), the EU (30%), and Japan (9.8%). Meanwhile, imports increased 3.4% yoy to NZD 6.7 billion, mainly boosted by higher purchases of mechanical machinery and equipment (10%), electrical machinery and equipment (22%), vehicles, parts, and accessories (16%), and precious metals, jewellery, and coins (76%). By source, imports rose from China (13%), South Korea (26%), and the EU (17%).
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