New Zealand’s terms of trade for export prices swung into negative territory in the first quarter of 2026, with the indicator falling to -2.7%. This marks a sharp turnaround from the 5.3% increase recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The shift suggests that prices received for New Zealand’s exports weakened at the start of 2026 after a strong finish to the previous year. While no sector details were released, the decline indicates that exporters are now facing a less favourable price environment compared with late 2025.
The updated data, published on 2 June 2026, will be closely watched by market participants and policymakers, as export prices are a key driver of New Zealand’s external earnings and overall trade performance.
