China market helps maintain New Zealand trade surplus in June

WELLINGTON - A surge in exports to China helped New Zealand maintain an overall trade surplus last month, the government statistics agency said Tuesday.

China led the way in New Zealand's rising exports, with goods to China increasing by 18 percent, or NZ$125 million ($87.47 million), from June last year.

The increase in exports was led by rises in logs, wood, and wood articles, kiwifruit, dairy products and food preparations for infant use, according to Statistics New Zealand.

New Zealand had a trade surplus of NZ$127 million ($88.96 million), or 3 percent of exports, in June.

That compared with a deficit of NZ$182 million ($127.49 million) in June last year.

The agency noted the value of kiwifruit exports had soared by 47 percent year on year to reach NZ$331 million ($231.86 million ), led by demand from China and Japan.

The quantities of kiwifruit exported were up 32 percent.

"Export values of kiwifruit for the months of May and June 2016 are the two highest on record," international statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said in a statement.