Vehicles drive growth of imports
The value of imported vehicles, parts and accessories totalled $853 million last month for an increase of $220m, or 34.8 per cent, when compared to September 2024.
The category was one of the key drivers behind total merchandise goods imports for September rising by $116m, or 1.6 per cent, from a year ago to $7.2 billion.
Stats NZ’s latest figures also show motor vehicles alone led the sector after growing year-on-year by $133m, or 34 per cent.
The biggest jump for vehicles, parts and accessories last month was those from China rising $68m, while such commodities from the European Union fell by $74m.
The latest data also shows the automotive category recorded an increase in value for the three months ended September 2025, rising 18.7 per cent from the same period a year earlier to hit $2.46b.
However, the tally for the 12 months to the end of September slipped from $9.2b a year ago to $8.7b, a drop of 5.8 per cent.
As for other categories, petroleum products in September fell $188m or 22.9 per cent from a year ago to total $635m.
Overall exports last month climbed $928m, or 19 per cent, to reach $5.8b. This meant the monthly trade balance was a deficit of $1.4b.
The quarterly trade balance for September 2025 was a deficit of $20m, while the annual figure for the year to the end of last month was a deficit of $9.2b.
