New Zealand goods exports jump 15 pct in August

WELLINGTON, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's goods exports rose 15 percent in August from a year earlier, while imports increased 13 percent, according to data released by Stats NZ on Friday.

Meat products are seen on shelves at a supermarket in Wellington, New Zealand on April 8, 2022. (Photo: Xinhua)

Goods exports grew by 888 million NZ dollars (about 508 million U.S. dollars) to 6.7 billion NZ dollars, while imports gained by 924 million NZ dollars to 8 billion NZ dollars, the statistics department said in a statement.

The monthly trade balance was a deficit of 1.3 billion NZ dollars, it noted.

Among major export commodities, meat and edible offal rose 144 million NZ dollars, or 23 percent. Fruit increased 100 million NZ dollars, or 12 percent, and milk powder, butter and cheese rose 84 million NZ dollars, or 7.6 percent, statistics showed.

Stats NZ said exports to China increased by 191 million NZ dollars in August, or 16 percent. The largest increases were in logs, wood and wood articles, milk powder, butter and cheese, and fruit.

Goods imports to New Zealand grew 13 percent to 8 billion NZ dollars in August from a year earlier, boosted by a 43-percent increase in petroleum and products, the department said.

In the year ending in August, goods exports rose 7.7 billion NZ dollars to 85.3 billion NZ dollars, while imports increased 10 billion NZ dollars to 90.8 billion NZ dollars, resulting in an annual trade deficit of 5.4 billion NZ dollars, a rise from 3.2 billion NZ dollars a year earlier, it said. (1 NZ dollar equals 0.57 U.S. dollars)