26 Sep 2017

NZ posts $1.2bn trade deficit

9:14 pm on 26 September 2017

New Zealand has posted its biggest monthly trade deficit in nearly a year.

Official figures show a deficit of $1.2 billion for August following a small surplus in the previous month.

Exports rose 9 percent to $3.7bn on the same month a year ago led by higher fruit prices, while dairy values fell.

Imports rose 6.5 percent to $4.9bn, driven by crude oil, along with machinery and equipment.

On an annual basis, the deficit was $3.2bn.