FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

New Zealand Records Nearly NZ$2 Billion Goods Trade Surplus in April

By

New Zealand recorded a goods trade surplus of NZ$1.92 billion in April, compared with a surplus of NZ$430.2 million in March, Stats NZ data showed on Thursday.

Goods exports rose 12% to NZ$8.62 billion, while imports rose 3.4% to NZ$6.7 billion.

Exports were driven by a 26% increase in meat and edible offal, while mechanical machinery and equipment recorded the largest decline, falling 19%.

Electrical machinery and equipment led the increase in imports, rising 22%, while aircraft and parts led the decline, falling 85%.

In the year ended April, New Zealand recorded a trade deficit of NZ$2.76 billion, compared with a trade deficit of NZ$5.05 billion in the year ended April 2025.

Related Articles

International

New Zealanders Expect Inflation to Rise to 5.6% Over Next Year, RBNZ Survey Shows

The mean one-year-ahead expected inflation in New Zealand was 5.6% in the June quarter, up from 5.2% in the previous quarter, while the perception of current inflation came in at 7.5%, according to a survey by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) released on Wednesday.In the June quarter, the inflation rate is expected to rise to a mean of 4.9% in two years and 4% in five years, up from 3.4% and 3.3%, respectively, in the March quarter.Meanwhile, nearly 41% of New Zealanders now expect higher house prices, compared with about 48% in the March quarter. The annual inflation rate for house prices is expected to clock in at a mean of 1.5% in a year and 5.9% in five years.

^NZ50
International

United Nations Cuts 2026 Growth Forecast for Australian Economy as Energy Supply Shock Bites

The United Nations lowered its 2026 growth forecast for the Australian economy to 2% as the country's demand‐led recovery is now under pressure from the energy supply shock created by the Middle East conflict, according to the mid-year update of the body's World Economic Situation and Prospects report.A previous report in January forecast 2.2% growth for Australia, which continues to rely on imports of refined fuel products."In Australia, wage-driven inflationary pressures have led the Reserve Bank to resume monetary tightening in early 2026, adding a further drag on growth," the new report said.The UN also lowered its 2026 global economic growth forecast to 2.5% from 2.7% previously.

ASX 200
International

Market Chatter: Indian Airlines Seek Delay in Aviation Fuel Price Hike

Major Indian airlines have asked state-run oil refiners to halt jet fuel price increases for domestic flights until the Middle East conflict eases, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.The proposal was floated by domestic airlines, including Air India, IndiGo (NSE:INDIGO, BOM:539448), and SpiceJet (BOM:500285), the report said.They reportedly warned the government that raising fuel prices could lead to flight suspensions and broader business disruptions.State-owned refiners, including Indian Oil Corporation (NSE:IOC, BOM:530965), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (NSE:HINDPETRO, BOM:500104), and Bharat Petroleum Corporation (NSE:BPCL, BOM:500547) are currently considering the proposal, according to the report.India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has joined the discussions and may intervene directly, as it did in Aprl and May, the report added.Aviation fuel in India is deregulated and is fixed by the country's main oil marketing companies, which revise the prices each month.However, in April, to lessen the impact of the surge in global oil prices, the Indian government capped the most recent jet fuel price hike to 25% and asked the oil companies to keep them constant in May, Bloomberg added.A decision on the airlines' proposal is expected before June 1, the report said.(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

^BSENifty 50BOM:500104BOM:500285BOM:500547BOM:530965BOM:539448NSE:BPCLNSE:HINDPETRONSE:INDIGONSE:IOC