NZ posts bigger-than-forecast trade surplus in February, helped by drilling equipment
By Tina Morrison
March 24 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand posted a bigger trade surplus than expected in February, as exports were bolstered
by a $267 million drilling platform.
Statistics New Zealand said the country had a merchandise trade surplus of $339 million in February, compared with
expectations for a $50 million surplus in a Reuters poll of economists. The data included the export of a large drilling
platform, and excluding that item the surplus was $72 million, the agency said. The latest data compares with a $13
million surplus in January, and an $84 million surplus in February last year.
Exports in February increased 9.3 percent to $4.25 billion from the year earlier month, ahead of the $4.05 billion
forecast by economists. Ships, boats and floating structures led the gain in exports, due to the drilling platform,
without which overall exports would have gained just 2.5 percent.
Meanwhile, exports of dairy products, the country's largest commodity export group, increased 9.2 percent to $992
million from the year earlier, due to gains in both the value and volume of products such as butter and cheese. The
export value of milk powder fell 7.8 percent while the volume edged up 1 percent.
Meat exports, the second-largest commodity export group, slid 8.6 percent to $62 million. The value of beef exports
declined 15 percent while the volume fell 7.8 percent, and the value of lamb exports sank 6.3 percent while the quantity
increased 4.6 percent.
Exports to China, the country's largest market, increased 1.6 percent. Increases in exports of milk powder, butter and
cheese offset declines in raw hides, skins, leather, and logs.
"We may see some deterioration in the trade balance in the near term," Michael Gordon, senior economist at Westpac
Banking Corp in New Zealand, said in a note. "Oil import prices have seen a sizeable rebound in recent weeks, while
dairy export prices have remained depressed."
February imports into New Zealand increased 2.8 percent to $3.91 billion from the year earlier month, in line with the
$3.94 billion forecast by economists. Consumption goods rose 12 percent, led by a rise in non-durable goods such as
pharmaceuticals, pet food and cigarettes. Semi-durable goods such as toys, games and clothing gained 10 percent while
durable goods such as electrical machinery and jewellery rose 15 percent.
Imports of intermediate goods edged up 0.6 percent as an increase in semi-manufactured gold and paper offset a decline
in raw cane sugar and crude oil. Capital goods slid 3.9 percent as a decline in transport equipment offset a gain in
other equipment such as cellphones.
On an annual basis, New Zealand had a merchandise trade deficit of $3.32 billion, compared with expectations for a $3.57
billion deficit in the Reuters poll, and a $2.13 billion deficit at the same time last year.
(BusinessDesk)