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Dairy exports to China down, but small surplus in April
New Zealand ran a smaller than expected trade surplus of $123 million in April, with exports for the month down on a year ago, while imports were up. Dairy exports are well down on levels seen a year ago especially milk powder sales to China, while imports of aircraft and consumer goods lifted the trade values coming into the country. For the year to April, the trade shortfall was $2.6 billion, the biggest deficit since the middle of 2009. Some economists expected a surplus of about $200m for April. Statistics NZ figures showed total goods exports fell $240 million (5.5 per cent) to $4.2 billion in April this year, ... (full story)