New Zealand posted its first monthly trade surplus in seven months in January. The merchandise trade surplus amounted to $8.1 million, compared with expectations for a $245.5 million deficit in a Reuters poll of economists, it was partly aided by higher shipments of fruit.
Exports rose 5.9% to $3.9 billion from the year-earlier month, ahead of the $3.74 billion forecast by economists, while imports increased 7.2% to $3.89 billion, also higher than the $3.87 billion expected.
Fruit exports jumped 32% to $81 million as cherry exports surged 51% to a record $55 million.
China remained the country's top export destination in January, with exports up 25% to $737 million, led by a rise in milk powder, butter, cheese, wool and cherries.
Exports to Australia, the second-largest market, advanced 11% to $581 million.
However, exports to the US, the third-largest market, slipped 9.5% to $451 million.
