New Zealand’s merchandise terms of trade fell 2.0% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to March 2026, reversing a 3.7% rise in the prior quarter and coming in worse than expectations of a 1.2% decline. The deterioration reflected weaker relative export prices, with export prices falling 2.7% compared with a 0.7% drop in import prices. In value terms, export values for goods grew 0.4% to $19.5 billion as export volumes rose 2.7%, while import values increased 2.7% to $21.1 billion as import volumes advanced 2.2%. The weaker terms of trade indicate a decline in purchasing power for New Zealand exporters despite rising export volumes.