Cargo weight imports up but exports down - SNZ

By NZPA

Wednesday 22nd September 2004

The cargo weight of imports into New Zealand rose for the year-ended June, while the weight of export cargo loaded fell, according to data released by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) today.

The weight of import cargo unloaded at New Zealand ports was up 9.6%, while export cargo loaded fell 10.8% during the June 2004 year, SNZ said in a statement.

The value of import cargo unloaded and export cargo loaded both increased, up 2.9% and 0.5%, respectively, during the year.

SNZ said coal, diesel, partly refined petroleum, motor spirit and kerosene; cement and gypsum; aluminium oxide; and fertilisers were the main contributors to the overall increase in the weight of import cargo unloaded during the year. These increases were partly offset by reduced shipments of sugar.

Tauranga, Wellington and Auckland posted the largest gains in the weight of imports unloaded during the year.

SNZ said the main contributors to the lower export cargo weights loaded during the year were wood, crude oil and alcohols. Partly offsetting these decreases, were increases for milk, cream, butter and cheese.

New Plymouth recorded the largest fall, both in weight and value of export cargo loaded, down 37.2% and 16.5%, respectively. Tauranga also recorded a fall, down 1.171 million tonnes or 14.9% in weight of export cargo loaded.

SNZ said electrical machinery and equipment, vehicles, mechanical machinery and equipment were the main contributors to the higher value of imports unloaded during the year. Commodities which contributed to the higher value of exports loaded during the year were mechanical machinery and equipment; dairy products; meat and edible offal; and fruit.

The value of the New Zealand dollar, as measured by the trade weighted index, appreciated 10.8% against the currencies of the country's major trading partners over the same period.

During the month of June the New Zealand dollar fell 5.7% from its peak in February. This followed a rise of 10.7% from the beginning of the June year. SNZ said an appreciating exchange rate generally has a downward influence on export and import prices.

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