Exports of several commodities including crude oil, fruit, and dairy products increased in value in August 2019, but these rises were partly offset by a fall in log exports, Stats NZ said today.
In August 2019, the value of total goods exports rose $151 million (3.8 percent) from August 2018 to $4.1 billion. Exports of fruit rose $57 million, with both gold kiwifruit and apples up on a year earlier.
“Kiwifruit and apple exports have had strong export seasons to the end of August this year, with both values and quantities up on 2018,” international statistics manager Geraldine Duoba said.
Exports of gold kiwifruit in the 2019 season to date (April – August) were 17 percent higher in value and 13 percent higher in quantity than in 2018. Exports of apples in the 2019 season to date (March – August) were 13 percent higher in value and 6.9 percent higher in quantity than in 2018.
Of New Zealand’s main export markets, China had the largest increase, up $118 million to $1.0 billion, led by increases in beef, kiwifruit, and dairy products. These increases were partly offset by a fall in logs.
Trade deficit in August 2019
The monthly trade balance in August 2019 was a deficit of $1.6 billion, marginally smaller than the record monthly deficit of September 2018.
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