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NZ Trade Deficit Widens Dramatically
21 Aug
Summary
- New Zealand's trade deficit hit nearly NZ$2 billion in July.
- Soaring oil prices drove import costs to a record high.
- The trade gap significantly widened from the previous month.

New Zealand's trade deficit widened dramatically in July, reaching its largest gap in almost two years. The deficit climbed to NZ$1.95 billion, a substantial increase from the revised NZ$237 million in June. This significant shift was primarily caused by record-high import values.
Soaring global oil prices were identified as a key driver behind the elevated cost of imports. The surge in import expenses outpaced export earnings, leading to the widening trade imbalance. Statistics New Zealand reported these figures from Wellington on Friday.