A nation comprised of the North Island, South Island plus over 700 smaller islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, New Zealand imported US$37.1 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That metric reflects a -12.4% reduction from $42.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of New Zealand’s main imported products in 2020, categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the most valuable New Zealander imports during 2020 for each of New Zealand’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for about two-thirds (66.3%) of total New Zealander import purchases.

New Zealand is relatively distant from its trading partners. The shortest distance is from its Auckland Island territory to Australia’s Macquarie Island–about 383 miles (617 kilometers).

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for New Zealander imports and each of the top supplier countries.

New Zealand’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $8.4 billion or 22.5% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -2.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.5% of New Zealand’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $1.7 billion
Machinery: $1.5 billion
Furniture, lighting, signs: $491.8 million
Plastics: $439 million
Iron or steel products: $346.6 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $327.4 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $304.5 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $279.1 million
Toys, games: $259.5 million
Vehicles: $215.8 million
Paper: $184.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $175.7 million
Fertilizers: $143.6 million
Organic chemicals: $121.4 million
Aluminum: $117.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via an 88.1% gain in revenue, medical or technical equipment (up 15.6%) and paper (up 13.1%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -19.9%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -16.4%), vehicles (down -13.4%) then furniture, lighting and signs (down -12.8%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Australia

In 2020, Australia’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $4.5 billion or 12.1% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 60.9% of New Zealand’s imports from Australia.

Machinery: $269 million
Electronic equipment: $231.1 million
Other food preparations: $220.4 million
Paper: $209.5 million
Inorganic chemicals: $204.8 million
Gems, precious metals: $199.8 million
Plastics: $188.9 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $180.3 million
Vehicles: $179.5 million
Beverages: $170.9 million
Pharmaceuticals: $160.4 million
Medical, technical equipment: $145.8 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $137 million
Cereals: $121.8 million
Iron or steel products: $116 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from Australia under the gems and precious metals product category via a 101.5% gain in revenue, food waste and animal fodder (up 35.7%) then cereal or milk preparations (up 7.2%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -32.3%), inorganic chemicals (down -25.7%), paper (down -13%), cereals (down -12.7%) and machinery (down -11.2%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to New Zealand amounted to $3.6 billion or 9.7% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -15.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 79.1% of New Zealand’s imports from America.

Machinery: $871.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $367.3 million
Vehicles: $279 million
Electronic equipment: $201.3 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $147.2 million
Plastics: $139 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $135.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $124.4 million
Other chemical goods: $109.8 million
Other food preparations: $90.9 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $88 million
Sugar: $80.6 million
Organic chemicals: $72.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $69.6 million
Fruits, nuts: $60.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from the United States under the mineral fuels including oil product category via a 118.8% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 19.8%) and sugar (up 10.4%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -35.4%), machinery (down -30%), aircraft and spacecraft (down -17.8%), fruits and nuts (down -14.1%) then electronic equipment (down -13.1%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $2.1 billion or 5.7% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -24% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.7% of New Zealand’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $1.3 billion
Machinery: $304.9 million
Electronic equipment: $83.4 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $82.2 million
Medical, technical equipment: $40.5 million
Rubber: $29.5 million
Plastics: $21.5 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $19.2 million
Iron or steel products: $14.5 million
Pharmaceuticals: $13.5 million
Gems, precious metals: $12.3 million
Toys, games: $10.1 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $9.9 million
Paper: $9.8 million
Aircraft, spacecraft: $9.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from Japan under the gems and precious metals product category via a 170.9% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 126%), photographic or cinematographic goods (up 23.8%), toys and games (up 18.4%) then pharmaceuticals (up 13.6%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -66%), paper (down -47.3%), tanning or dyeing extracts (down -29.6%), machinery (down -29.2%), rubber (down -21.9%) and vehicles (down -21.5%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $1.8 billion or 4.9% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a 10.9% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.5% of New Zealand’s imports from South Korea.

Mineral fuels including oil: $732.9 million
Ships, boats: $256.9 million
Vehicles: $226.7 million
Machinery: $108.1 million
Plastics: $61.3 million
Iron and steel: $56.2 million
Electronic equipment: $48.1 million
Iron or steel products: $23.4 million
Copper: $18.7 million
Paper: $16.3 million
Rubber: $14.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $14.2 million
Fertilizers: $13.8 million
Aluminum: $9.4 million
Other chemical goods: $9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from South Korea under the highly capital-intensive ships and boats product category via a 558,363% gain in revenue, copper (up 106.8%), cereal or milk preparations (up 17.3%) and miscellaneous chemical goods (up 14%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were aluminum (down -53.1%), iron and steel as materials (down -34.5%), vehicles (down -23.7%), paper (down -12.5%), plastics (down -11.7%) and rubber (down -10.4%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $1.8 billion or 4.7% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -25.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 86.8% of New Zealand’s imports from Germany.

Machinery: $489.8 million
Vehicles: $396 million
Pharmaceuticals: $147.1 million
Electronic equipment: $108.1 million
Medical, technical equipment: $100.2 million
Plastics: $53.9 million
Other chemical goods: $39.8 million
Sugar: $39.2 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $31.8 million
Iron or steel products: $24.3 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $24.1 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $19.8 million
Rubber: $18.3 million
Other manufactured products: $16.6 million
Base metal tools, cutlery: $16.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from Germany under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 19% gain in revenue and sugar (up 6.6%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -40.5%), vehicles (down -30.3%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -21.5%), medical or technical equipment (down -12.4%) and base metal tools or cutlery (down -10%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $1.5 billion or 4% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.1% of New Zealand’s imports from Thailand.

Vehicles: $623.2 million
Machinery: $207.6 million
Plastics: $88.8 million
Electronic equipment: $67 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $48.8 million
Rubber: $48 million
Meat, seafood preparations: $46.6 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $32.5 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $28.1 million
Gems, precious metals: $23.9 million
Aluminum: $22.8 million
Other food preparations: $19.4 million
Iron or steel products: $15.8 million
Cereals: $15.2 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $14.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from Thailand under the aluminum product category via an 81% gain in revenue, cereals (up 35.5%), food waste or animal fodder (up 24%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 23.3%), cereal or milk preparations (up 20.7%) and miscellaneous food preparations (up 18.8%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -29.3%), vehicles (down -28.7%), rubber (down -12.5%) and plastics as a material (down -9.3%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $1.1 billion or 2.9% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -20.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88.8% of New Zealand’s imports from Malaysia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $285.3 million
Electronic equipment: $136.4 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $109.6 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $79 million
Machinery: $73 million
Plastics: $58.4 million
Rubber: $50 million
Fertilizers: $47.6 million
Paper: $24.8 million
Medical, technical equipment: $21.4 million
Iron or steel products: $18.9 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $15.2 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $9.8 million
Other chemical goods: $9.3 million
Aluminum: $9.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from Malaysia under the rubber product category via a 74.2% gain in revenue and animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 6.3%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -44.2%), machinery (down -22%), paper (down -20.1%), aluminum (down -20%), miscellaneous chemical goods (down -18%) and items made from iron or steel (down -16.5%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to New Zealand amounted to $1 billion or 2.72% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -17.4% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.4% of New Zealand’s imports from Singapore.

Mineral fuels including oil: $500.9 million
Machinery: $133.3 million
Other food preparations: $82.7 million
Tobacco: $47.6 million
Plastics: $39.3 million
Medical, technical equipment: $30.3 million
Electronic equipment: $25.7 million
Paper: $23 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $14.8 million
Other chemical goods: $12.7 million
Iron and steel: $10.5 million
Organic chemicals: $10.3 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $6.8 million
Other manufactured products: $6.6 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $6.3 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from Singapore under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 51.9% gain in revenue, cocoa including cocoa preparations (up 44%), perfumes and cosmetics (up 26.1%), machinery (up 22.4%) then iron and steel as materials (up 9.3%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were paper (down -51.9%), tobacco (down -48.1%), plastics as a material (down -27.7%), mineral fuels including oil (down -21%) and medical or technical equipment (down -10.3%).

New Zealand’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to New Zealand amounted to $982.5 million or 2.65% of overall New Zealander imports.

That dollar amount represents a -44.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 99.3% of New Zealand’s imports from the United Arab Emirates.

Mineral fuels including oil: $898.6 million
Plastics: $26.7 million
Glass: $15.9 million
Textile floor coverings: $12.2 million
Copper: $6.6 million
Iron or steel products: $3.1 million
Man-made filaments: $2.5 million
Electronic equipment: $2.2 million
Fruits, nuts: $1.6 million
Felt, yarn, twine, cordage: $1.41 million
Gems, precious metals: $1.38 million
Machinery: $1.2 million
Paper: $954,000
Vegetable/fruit preparations: $898,000
Perfumes, cosmetics: $772,000

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for New Zealander imports from the United Arab Emirates under the paper product category via a 1,172% gain in revenue, felt, yarn, twine and cordage (up 666.3%), gems and precious metals (up 246%), fruits and nuts (up 139.8%), vegetable or fruit preparations (up 36.5%) and textile floor coverings (up 33%).

Posting the severest declines among New Zealand’s top 15 imported products were copper (down -60.1%), mineral fuels including oil (down -46%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -22.7%), man-made filaments (down -21.9%), products made from iron or steel (down -11.3%) and glass (down -9.1%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, New Zealand, Borders of New Zealand

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

New Zealand’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries