2026.01.2821:53:21UTC+00New Zealand Trade Surplus Widens

In December 2025, New Zealand experienced a trade surplus of NZD 52 million, an increase from the NZD 36 million surplus recorded in December of the previous year. Export growth was notably robust, climbing by 15.0% to reach NZD 7.7 billion. This surge in exports was primarily fueled by significant increases in key sectors: milk powder, butter, and cheese rose by NZD 361 million (up 15%), meat and edible offal by NZD 274 million (up 30%), precious metals by NZD 223 million (up 172%), and aluminium surged by 36%. Regionally, exports to Australia increased by 26%, exports to the European Union saw a 31% rise, and exports to Japan improved by 15%. On the import side, there was also a 15.0% rise to NZD 7.6 billion, driven by increased imports of electrical and mechanical machinery and equipment, vehicles, parts and accessories, as well as petroleum and related products. Notably, imports from China grew by 27%, those from the European Union increased by 26%, while imports from the US decreased by 16%, and South Korean imports rose by 11%.