A rise in dairy exports has helped the country record a trade surplus for the three months to September.
Statistics New Zealand figures show a seasonally adjusted surplus of $147 million for the September quarter.
Exports rose 5% and imports fell 1%.
Trade deficits had been recorded in the previous two quarters.
For September alone, however, a fall in exports and imports led to a trade deficit of $791 million.
Exports fell nearly 4% during the month, in line with usual seasonal fluctuations, outweighing a 3% fall in imports.
Once adjusted for seasonal factors, exports actually rose 6% contributing to a smaller trade deficit of $82 million dollars.
Exports of dairy products fell 20% in September, but sales of meat, crude oil and wine all rose.
