Overseas Merchandise Trade 21 August

Overseas merchandise trade statistics provide information on imports and exports of merchandise goods between New Zealand and other countries.

Key facts

This release refers to trade in goods only.

In July 2026, compared with July 2025:

• goods exports rose by $881 million (14 percent), to $7.4 billion
• goods imports rose by $2.1 billion (28 percent), to $9.3 billion
• the monthly trade balance was a deficit of $1.9 billion.

Text alternative for Goods exports and imports, July 2026 month compared with July 2025 month

Exports

Goods exports rose by $881 million (14 percent) in July 2026 (to $7.4 billion), compared with July 2025.

Milk powder, butter, and cheese rose $117 million (6.4 percent), to $1.9 billion.

Changes in exports of milk powder, butter, and cheese, July 2026 compared with July 2025

Top monthly export movements by country

The monthly movements in July 2026, compared with July 2025, for our top export partners (in order of total annual goods exports) were:

• China: total exports were up $201 million (14 percent).
  • The largest rises were meat and edible offal, up $60 million; fruit, up $43 million; and casein and caseinates, up $32 million.
  • The largest fall was preparations of milk, cereals, flour, and starch, down $34 million.
• Australia: total exports were up $58 million (6.7 percent).
  • The largest rises were miscellaneous edible preparations, up $17 million; precious metals, jewellery, and coins, up $16 million; and iron and steel, and articles, up $12 million.
  • The largest falls were wine, down $22 million, and preparations of milk, cereals, flour, and starch, down $16 million.
• USA: total exports were up $221 million (29 percent).
  • The largest rises were meat and edible offal, up $74 million; milk powder, butter, and cheese, up $35 million; and fruit, up $28 million.
  • The largest fall was animal or vegetable fats and oils, down $13 million.
• EU: total exports were up $59 million (9.6 percent).
  • The largest rises were aluminium and aluminium articles, up $27 million; fruit, up $22 million; and vehicles, parts, and accessories, up $19 million.
  • The largest falls were mechanical machinery and equipment, down $46 million, and milk powder, butter, and cheese, down $16 million.
• Japan: total exports were up $2.3 million (0.6 percent).
  • The largest rises were aluminium and aluminium articles, up $29 million, and albumins, gelatin, glues, and enzymes, up $12 million.
  • The largest falls were fruit, down $43 million, and logs, wood, and wood articles, down $14 million.

Imports

Goods imports rose by $2.1 billion (28 percent), in July 2026 (to $9.3 billion), compared with July 2025.

Top monthly import movements by country

The monthly movements in July 2026, compared with July 2025, for our top import partners (in order of total annual goods imports) were:

• China: total imports were up $342 million (21 percent).
  • The largest rises were vehicles, parts, and accessories, up $130 million; electrical machinery and equipment, up $63 million; and mechanical machinery and equipment, up $27 million.
  • There were no significant falls over $10 million.
• EU: total imports were up $202 million (19 percent).
  • The largest rises were vehicles, parts, and accessories, up $51 million; railway, up $49 million; and mechanical machinery and equipment, up $29 million.
  • The largest fall was electrical machinery and equipment, down $11 million.
• Australia: total imports were up $103 million (13 percent).
  • The largest rises were sugars and sugar confectionery, up $25 million; cereals, up $16 million; and vehicles, parts, and accessories, up $12 million.
  • There were no significant falls over $10 million.
• USA: total imports were down $13 million (1.7 percent).
  • The largest rises were fertilisers, up $95 million; food residues, wastes, and fodder, up $32 million; and petroleum and products, up $18 million.
  • The largest falls were mechanical machinery and equipment, down $98 million; aircraft and parts, down $49 million; and pharmaceutical products, down $19 million.
• South Korea: total imports were up $112 million (18 percent).
  • The largest rise was petroleum and products, up $127 million.
  • There were no significant falls over $10 million.

Trade deficit in July 2026

The monthly trade balance was a deficit of $1.9 billion.

Imports of selected Harmonised System (HS) codes - supplementary table

The following table presents selected harmonised system (HS) codes for import commodities that may be affected by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Low-value imported goods (LVIG) - supplementary downloadable table

Low-value imported goods (LVIG) are imported goods with a GST-exclusive value of NZ$1,000 or less, excluding tobacco and alcohol. Previously, LVIG were not included in our overseas merchandise trade (OMT) statistics because they are processed through a different customs clearance process. However, LVIG are included as a conceptual adjustment in the international trade and balance of payments releases and subsequently flow into other economic statistics.

From the July 2026 release, we have included a supplementary downloadable table showing the value of low-value imported goods, with data starting from April 2026. This table will be updated with each future overseas merchandise trade publication.

The supplementary table provides a more complete picture of New Zealand's goods imports by presenting information on low-value imported goods alongside existing OMT statistics. This enhances the coverage of goods imports in OMT while maintaining the existing treatment of imported goods as they flow into other economic statistics.

July 2026 year

Annual values are actual and compared with the year ended July 2025.

• Annual goods exports were valued at $84.6 billion, up $7.9 billion from the previous year.
• Annual goods imports were valued at $89.8 billion, up $9.0 billion from the previous year.
• The annual trade deficit was $5.2 billion. In the year ended July 2025 the deficit was $4.2 billion.

Text alternative for Goods exports and imports, July 2026 month compared with July 2025 month

The diagram shows goods exports and imports for the July 2026 month compared with the July 2025 month.

The trade balance is a deficit of $1.9 billion. This is the difference between exports valued at $7.4 billion (up $881 million or 14 percent) and imports valued at $9.3 billion (up $2.1 billion or 28 percent).

Export commodities that rose included: meat and edible offal, up $251 million (34 percent); milk powder, butter, and cheese, up $117 million (6.4 percent); fruit, up $91 million (15 percent); aluminium and aluminium articles, up $59 million (43 percent).

Export commodities that fell included: preparations of milk, cereals, flour, and starch*, down $48 million (16 percent); aircraft and parts**, down $45 million (72 percent); crude oil**, down $39 million (100 percent); mechanical machinery and equipment, down $23 million (9.0 percent).

Import commodities that rose included: petroleum and products**, up $932 million (127 percent); vehicles, parts, and accessories, up $328 million (38 percent); fertilisers, up $124 million (103 percent); food residues, wastes, and fodder, up $124 million (105 percent).

Import commodities that fell included: aircraft and parts**, down $37 million (29 percent); cocoa and cocoa preparations, down $13 million (22 percent); pharmaceutical products, down $12 million (5.1 percent).

*Includes infant formula

**Exports and imports of aircraft, and parts, crude oil, and petroleum and products fluctuate month to month based on individual large movements.

Source: Stats NZ

More data

Use Infoshare to access time-series data for imports and exports (subject category: Imports and exports).

Overseas merchandise trade datasets has CSV data for goods imports and exports.

International trade: March 2026 quarter has information on trade in goods and services.

Definitions and metadata

Overseas merchandise trade - DataInfo+ provides the definitions of terms used in this release and general methodology used to produce overseas merchandise trade statistics.

Infoshare is being replaced by Aotearoa Data Explorer

Infoshare is being replaced by Aotearoa Data Explorer. Stay informed and get support with this change by joining our customer group at [email protected].

Technical enquiries

International accounts team
[email protected]
04 931 4600

ISSN 1178-0320

Next release

Overseas merchandise trade: August 2026 will be released on 18 September 2026.