Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Export prices hit new high – Media release
2 September 2020
Higher export prices for dairy, kiwifruit, and logs in the June 2020 quarter helped push overall export prices to their highest level since the series began, Stats NZ said today.
The export price index rose 2.4 percent in the June 2020 quarter compared with a 0.2 percent fall in the March 2020 quarter. Import prices fell slightly (down 0.1 percent), boosting the merchandise terms of trade to a new high of 2.5 percent.
“Most dairy products increased in price over the quarter with global dairy trade auction prices recovering from a slump earlier in the year,” business prices manager Bryan Downes said.
Dairy export prices rose 4.1 percent in the June quarter.
“Export prices have been supported by favourable exchange rates after the New Zealand dollar fell as the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world,” Mr Downes said.
Forestry products export prices rose 11 percent in the June 2020 quarter, following a 3.3 percent fall last quarter. Forestry products export volumes fell 20 percent in the quarter, after forest logging stopped in April as logging was considered a non-essential business during the COVID-19 lockdown.
“The domestic supply of logs for export was affected by efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 in New Zealand while global supply constraints saw a spike in export prices over the same period,” Mr Downes said.
Imports prices fall led by crude oil price drop
Prices for imports fell 0.1 percent in the June 2020 quarter, reflecting a significant fall in imported fuel prices, partly offset by higher prices for cellphones, televisions, and laptops as well as animal fodder such as palm kernel. Petroleum products import prices fell 35 percent in the quarter, the largest drop since the March 2009 quarter during the global financial crisis when prices fell 36 percent. Petroleum products volumes fell 42 percent in the June 2020 quarter.
“Crude oil stocks built up and imports fell after the border was closed to international visitors in March and air and road travel within New Zealand slowed due to COVID-19 restrictions,” Mr Downes said.
Higher prices for imported food products and technological items partly offset the fall in petroleum products.
“Drought conditions during the first half of the year led to increased demand for animal feed such as palm kernel, with higher prices and a sharp increase in volumes,” Mr Downes said.
Higher prices for cellphones, televisions, and laptops influenced a 4.7 percent rise to electrical machinery and apparatus.
“Demand for such technology increased as more employees and students worked from home during the COVID-19 lockdown,” Mr Downes said.
Transportation services costs rise sharply
Overseas trade index prices for services exports rose 0.7 percent in the June 2020 quarter, with a rise of 16 percent for transportation services – its largest quarterly increase on record.
“With fewer international passenger flights running after the border restrictions were imposed earlier in 2020, it became more expensive to deliver air freight to and from New Zealand,” Mr Downes said.
The rise was partly offset by a fall in prices for travel services exports of 3.1 percent – its largest quarterly decrease on record (see COVID-19 knocks spending by overseas visitors and students).
The services terms of trade fell 3.2 percent with overseas trade index services imports prices up 4 percent in the quarter.
