New Zealand's overseas trade statistics include the value and volume of imports, exports, and overseas cargo. Overseas trade indexes, which measure changes in the level of prices for imports and exports, are available for each quarter and year. Balance of trade and exchange rate changes are included in Statistics New Zealand's release of import and export information.
International trade in goods contributes to New Zealand's Balance of Payments, along with imports and exports of services. Goods are physical, produced items, whereas services include spending by international tourists and commercial services such as providing legal advice to a client overseas.
Goods data is obtained from export and import entry documents lodged with the New Zealand Customs Service. The data is processed and passed to Statistics NZ for further editing and compilation.