MNI DATA: New Zealand Posts Trade Surplus In Apr On Kiwifruit

By Sophia Rodrigues

     SYDNEY (MNI) - New Zealand recorded second-highest monthly export on record

in April thanks to surge in kiwifruit export while imports declined, leading to

a trade surplus which was the highest in four months.

     Data published by Statistics New Zealand Friday showed the trade balance

was a surplus of NZ$263 million in April, higher than MNI median forecast for

NZ$200 million surplus. It was the biggest monthly surplus since NZ$614 million

in December when exports touched a record high of NZ$5.51 billion.

     In April exports rose 5.4% m/m to NZ$5.05 billion but imports fell 3.2% m/m

to NZ$4.79 billion. On a y/y basis, exports rose 7.3% while imports rose 15.1%.

     Kiwifruit exports rose 82% y/y to NZ$438 million due mainly to a 61% rise

in quantity. Overall fruit exports rose 51% y/y to NZ$615 million. Among other

main categories, meat and edible offal rose 15% y/y to NZ$723 million, and dairy

rose 6.2% y/y to NZ$1.2 billion.

--MNI Sydney Bureau; tel: +61 2-9716-5467; email: sophia.rodrigues@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: MANDA$,MANDS$,MMNRB$,M$A$$$,M$N$$$,MT$$$$]