New Zealand posted a merchandise trade deficit of NZ$779 million in November, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday – representing 19 percent of exports.
The headline figure beat forecasts for a shortfall of NZ$810 million following the downwardly revised NZ$905 million deficit in October.
The trade deficit in November 2014 was NZ$283 million.
Exports were up NZ$40 million or 1.0 percent on year to NZ$4.08 billion, led by meat and fruit. Milk powder, butter, and cheese exports fell 3.3 percent to NZ$1.2 billion.
Exports to China climbed NZ$117 million, and exports to Australia fell NZ$31 million. This widened the gap between the two countries on an annual basis to NZ$200 million.
Imports spiked an annual 12.0 percent or NZ$535 million to NZ$4.79 billion.
Capital goods led the rise, with transport equipment up NZ$293 million. Excluding large aircraft, total goods imports jumped 6.3 percent to NZ$4.5 billion, and capital goods gained NZ$106 million.
“During 2015 the lower New Zealand dollar has pushed up the price of imported goods,” international statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said. “A recent fall in the world crude oil price has more than offset the lower New Zealand dollar for petroleum imports.”
On a yearly basis, fell 31 percent in value, while the quantity of crude oil imported rose 6.9 percent over that period.
Consumption goods surged NZ$213 million (19 percent), driven by the lower New Zealand dollar and higher import volumes. The trade weighted index fell 7.8 on year.
Year to date, the trade balance is a deficit of NZ$3.678 billion. That beat forecasts for a shortfall of NZ$3.700 billion following the NZ$3.182 billion deficit in October.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com