That dollar amount reflects a 7.4% increase compared to $43.4 billion five years earlier during 2021.
Year over year, the value of products exported from New Zealand accelerated by 9.8% from $42.4 billion in 2024.
The top 5 countries in terms of buying exported goods from New Zealand are mainland China, Australia, United States of America, Japan and South Korea. That cohort of major customers consumed almost three-fifths (57.1%) of New Zealand’s world exports for 2025.
Applying a continental perspective, well over half (55.2%) of New Zealand’s exports by value was delivered to Asian countries while 15.1% was sold to importers in Oceania led by Australia and Fiji. New Zealand shipped another 14.4% worth of goods to buyers located in North America.
Smaller percentages went to customers in Europe (11.4%), Africa (2.6%) then Latin America (1.3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean.
New Zealand’s Top Trade Partners
Below is a list showcasing 25 of New Zealand’s top trade partners, countries that imported the most shipments by dollar value from New Zealand during 2025. Also shown is each trade partner’s percentage of total New Zealand exports.
- mainland China: US$11.5 billion (24.7% of New Zealand’s total exports)
- Australia: $5.9 billion (12.6%)
- United States: $5.4 billion (11.7%)
- Japan: $2.3 billion (4.9%)
- South Korea: $1.5 billion (3.2%)
- United Kingdom: $1.2 billion (2.6%)
- Taiwan: $1.11 billion (2.4%)
- Indonesia: $1.02 billion (2.2%)
- Singapore: $1.01 billion (2.2%)
- Netherlands: $948.3 million (2%)
- Malaysia: $906.3 million (1.9%)
- Canada: $853.1 million (1.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $851.1 million (1.8%)
- Thailand: $844.3 million (1.8%)
- Saudi Arabia: $831.7 million (1.8%)
- Hong Kong: $761.2 million (1.6%)
- Germany: $724.7 million (1.6%)
- Vietnam: $709.1 million (1.5%)
- Philippines: $530.2 million (1.1%)
- India: $439.8 million (0.9%)
- Algeria: $398.6 million (0.9%)
- Bangladesh: $376.1 million (0.8%)
- Fiji: $363.5 million (0.8%)
- Mexico: $350.2 million (0.8%)
- Sri Lanka: $317.5 million (0.7%)
Nearly nine-tenths (88.4%) of New Zealand’s exports in 2025 was delivered to the above 25 trade partners.
From 2024 to 2025, the leading gainers for buying exported goods from New Zealand were customers in Sri Lanka (up 56.1%), Germany (up 50.1%), Netherlands (up 35.8%), Canada (up 30.4%) then the United Arab Emirates (up 27%).
Year-over-year declines belonged to importers in Algeria (down -23.4% from 2024), Singapore (down -4.6%) and Fiji (down -2.6%).
Countries Causing the Greatest Trade Deficits for New Zealand
New Zealand generated an overall -US$951.9 million trade deficit for 2025, slimming by -78.7% from -$4.5 billion in red ink in 2024.
As defined by Investopedia, a country whose total value of all imported goods is higher than its value of all exports is said to have a negative trade balance or deficit.
It would be unrealistic for any exporting nation to expect across-the-board positive trade balances with all its importing partners. Similarly, that export country doesn’t necessarily post a negative trade balance with each individual partner with which it exchanges exports and imports.
New Zealand incurred the highest trade deficits with the following countries.
- South Korea: -US$1.7 billion (country-specific trade deficit in 2025)
- Singapore: -$1.4 billion
- Germany: -$1.3 billion
- Thailand: -$970.9 million
- Malaysia: -$768.4 million
- Italy: -$721.7 million
- France: -$544 million
- India: -$437.1 million
- Vietnam: -$391 million
- Switzerland: -$308.2 million
Among New Zealand’s trading partners that cause the greatest negative trade balances, New Zealand’s deficits with Malaysia (up 69.1%), India (up 23.9%) and Singapore (up 5.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These cashflow deficiencies clearly indicate New Zealand’s competitive disadvantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for New Zealand to develop country-specific strategies to strengthen its overall position in international trade.
Countries Generating the Biggest Trade Surpluses for New Zealand
Based on Investopedia’s definition of net importer, a country whose total value of all imported goods is lower than its value of all exports is said to have a positive trade balance or surplus.
In 2025, New Zealand earned the highest trade surpluses at the expense of the following countries.
- mainland China: US$895 million (country-specific trade surplus in 2025)
- Australia: $754.5 million
- United Arab Emirates: $741 million
- Hong Kong: $709.7 million
- Saudi Arabia: $661.7 million
- Taiwan: $547 million
- Netherlands: $540.9 million
- United States: $442.2 million
- Philippines: $396.9 million
- Algeria: $396.6 million
Among New Zealand’s trading partners that generate the greatest positive trade balances, New Zealand’s surpluses with Australia (up 326.4%), Netherlands (up 89.2%) and Taiwan (up 46.7%) grew at the fastest pace from 2024 to 2025.
These positive cashflow streams clearly indicate New Zealand’s competitive advantages with the above countries, but also represent key opportunities for New Zealand to develop country-specific strategies to optimize its overall position in international trade.
Companies Servicing New Zealand’s Trade Partners
Not one New Zealand-based corporation ranks among the Forbes Global 2000.
The NZX50 Index is the main stock market index for New Zealand. Based on that index, the following companies are among leading stock companies in New Zealand that have the highest capitalization values.
- Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (financial services)
- Coats Group PLC (sewing supplies, zippers, fasteners)
- Kathmandu Holdings Limited (outdoor clothing, equipment)
- Mainfreight Limited (logistics, transportation)
- Nuplex Industries Limited (resins for decorative/industrial/protective coatings)
- Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (building materials)
- The a2 Milk Company Limited (dairy products)
See also New Zealand’s Top 10 Exports and New Zealand’s Top 10 Imports
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World FactbookCountry Profiles. Accessed on February 25, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 25, 2026