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Data from FMP. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
New ZealandNew Zealand Balance of Trade climbed to 1.92B in April 2026
FMPMonthlyReleased May 2026
New Zealand Balance of Trade climbed to 1.92B in April 2026, released May 2026, up 1.49B from March's 0.43B reading. The print exceeded the 0.98B consensus by 0.94B. Balance of Trade has now risen for 4 consecutive months. Over the past 3 months, Balance of Trade averaged 0.22B, vs -0.21B in the prior 3-month window. Balance of Trade is now the highest in 36 months.
Latest Release
1.92
Actual
0.98
Consensus
0.43
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±0.59 billion
across last 12 releases
Last Call
May 2026
Predicted: 1.0
Actual: 1.92
Error: -0.92
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Signal Bias | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NZD/JPY | ▲ Direct | +0.65 | FOREX | Bullish NZD | → View |
| AUD/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.40 | FOREX | Bullish AUD | → View |
| NZD/USD | ▲ Direct | +0.38 | FOREX | Bullish NZD | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Balance of Trade (New Zealand) was reported at 1.92 billion in May 2026. This beat the market consensus of 0.98 billion by 0.94 billion. The reading rose from the previous value of 0.43 billion. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through May 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged -0.20 billion, ranging from -1.54 billion to 1.92 billion across 11 releases. This is classified as a medium-impact indicator released on a monthly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The indicator has been trending upward over the last three releases. The trailing three releases averaged 0.38 billion, up from the prior three at -0.55 billion. Volatility over the past year (σ 1.00 billion) is lower than the prior year (σ 1.14 billion). In May readings over the past 3 years, Balance of Trade has averaged 1.15 billion.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is positively correlated with NZD/JPY (Bullish NZD). A secondary relationship exists with AUD/USD, positively correlated (Bullish AUD). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 0.59 billion.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for June 18, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include GDP Growth Rate QoQ (Jun 17) and GDP Growth Rate YoY (Jun 17).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update May 2026.
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Balance of Trade - NZ
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About Balance of Trade — New Zealand
DEFINITION
The Balance of Trade is a financial indicator that measures the difference between a country's exports and imports of goods and services. It is an important measure of a country's economic health and can indicate whether a country is running a trade surplus or deficit. A positive balance of trade indicates that a country is exporting more than it is importing, while a negative balance of trade suggests the opposite. This indicator is closely monitored by economists and policymakers as it can impact a country's currency value, inflation, and overall economic growth.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
Trade-balance and tariff data inform exchange-rate fundamentals and feed directly into GDP via the net-exports channel. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Apr 2026): actual 1.92 M, consensus 0.98 M. Prior reading (Mar 2026): 0.698 M. Before that (Feb 2026): -0.257 M.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a materially higher reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bullish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary tailwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with NZD/JPY (Bullish NZD, r=0.65) — a useful reference for forex-focused traders.