New Zealand posts NZ$53m monthly trade deficit in December

[WELLINGTON] New Zealand posted a monthly trade deficit of NZ$53 million (S$48.8 million) in December, data from Statistics New Zealand showed on Thursday, while the annual trade deficit totaled NZ$3.549 billion.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a monthly deficit of NZ$131 million, and an annual gap of NZ$3.59 billion.

Exports totalled NZ$4.43 billion for the month, up from NZ$4.07 billion the previous month. Imports came in at NZ$4.48 billion compared with NZ$4.87 billion.

REUTERS