New Zealand’s trade deficit shrank to NZD 257 million in February 2026 from NZD 444 million in the same month a year earlier and beating estimates for a NZD 740 million deficit. Exports rose 0.4% to NZD 6.6 billion, due to meat and edible offal (11%), precious metals, jewellery, and coins (63%), ships, boats, and floating structures (152%), albumins, gelatin, glues, and enzymes (42%). Exports to China were down 3.6%, to Australia up 2.0%, to the European Union up 15% and to Japan down 14%. Imports rose 12% to NZD 6.9 billion, led by higher electrical machinery and equipment, precious metals, jewellery, and coins, food residues, wastes, and fodder, and pharmaceutical products. Imports from China increased 15%, from the EU 16%, the US rose 5.4% and South Korea rose 79%.