New Zealand Trade Balance
External balance on goods and services NE.RSB.GNFS.CD
New Zealand's trade balance was $-8.3B in 2025, ranked 155th globally. This represents a 98.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1970–2025.
Overview
New Zealand's trade balance stood at $-8.3B in 2025, a decline of +$4.2B from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach $-8.3B by 2025. New Zealand ranked 155th globally.
New Zealand’s trade balance has swung markedly over the 56‑year series, moving from a modest deficit of –194,141,561.21 in 1970 to a pronounced surplus of 3,363,515,074.28 in 2010, the highest point in the record. The post‑pandemic era saw the balance deteriorate sharply, reaching an all‑time trough of –13,427,101,055.68 in 2022 before easing to –8,349,714,599.86 in 2025, which places the country 155th globally. Compared with peer economies of similar rank, New Zealand’s 2025 deficit is slightly larger than Senegal’s –7,861,866,540.32 and marginally less negative than the Dominican Republic’s –9,803,453,888.30, indicating that its external position remains weaker than several lower‑ranked counterparts. The persistent deficit reflects a combination of high import demand and modest export growth, and unless export competitiveness improves or import demand moderates, the trade balance is likely to remain in negative territory in the near term.
Data & projection
| Year | Trade Balance | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027* trend | $-9.1B | - | - |
| 2026* trend | $-8.7B | - | - |
| 2025* trend | $-8.3B | - | - |
| 2025 | $-8.3B | −$4.2B | #155 |
| 2024 | $-4.2B | +$3.4B | #33 |
| 2023 | $-7.6B | +$5.8B | #27 |
| 2022 | $-13.4B | −$3.5B | #22 |
| 2021 | $-10.0B | −$8.7B | #17 |
| 2020 | $-1.2B | −$1.7B | #65 |
| 2019 | $437.5M | +$512.2M | #119 |
| 2018 | $-74.7M | −$2.1B | #106 |
| 2017 | $2.0B | +$489.5M | #132 |
| 2016 | $1.5B | −$267.0M | #136 |
| 2015 | $1.8B | +$178.4M | #144 |
| 2014 | $1.6B | −$1.4B | #137 |
| 2013 | $3.1B | +$1.8B | #137 |
| 2012 | $1.2B | −$1.4B | #125 |
| 2011 | $2.6B | −$755.7M | #131 |
Analysis
New Zealand's trade balance was $-8.3B in 2025, a decline of −$4.2B from 2024. Based on trends, estimated $-8.3B by 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
New Zealand's trade balance was $-8.3B in 2025. Ranked 155th globally. This represents a 98.9% decrease from the previous year.
New Zealand's trade balance peaked at $3.4B in 2010.
The lowest trade balance in New Zealand was $-13.4B in 2022.
New Zealand ranks 155th globally in trade balance as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is NE.RSB.GNFS.CD. Data sourced from World Bank.
New Zealand's trade balance is projected to reach $-8.3B by 2025 based on trend extrapolation.
The trade balance of New Zealand in 2025 was $-8.3B. This ranks 155th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_new-zealand_trade-balance,
title = {New Zealand Trade Balance},
url = {https://historysaid.com/new-zealand/trade-balance/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}