Imports Trend Up

Overseas Merchandise Trade (Imports): April 2001

The value of merchandise imports for April 2001 is $2,469 million, according to latest figures released by Statistics New Zealand. The latest data shows a rising imports trend over the last two months, following three months of little change.

The value of imports for the year ended April 2001 is $31,563 million, up 11.6 per cent from the previous April year. Intermediate goods (goods imported for further processing, which include crude oil) rose 22.3 per cent in value. Imports of consumption goods rose 12.0 per cent and imports of capital goods rose 5.5 per cent. Excluding items individually valued at $100 million or more (such as large aircraft and ships), the annual increase in the merchandise imports value was 14.9 per cent.

The largest annual increases in commodity values were for petroleum and related products, electrical machinery and mechanical machinery. The countries contributing the most to the annual increase were the United States of America, the People's Republic of China, the United Arab Emirates and Germany.

The early estimate for April 2001 merchandise exports is $2,860 million, giving a merchandise trade surplus of $391 million for the month, compared with a deficit of $22 million for April 2000. Detailed statistics for April 2001 merchandise exports will be released on 11 June 2001.

Ian Ewing DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN

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