October 2018 monthly values are actual and compared with October 2017.

• Goods exports rose $303 million (6.6 percent) to $4.9 billion.

• Goods imports rose $758 million (14 percent) to $6.2 billion. This is the highest imports value ever.

• The monthly trade balance was a deficit of $1.3 billion (27 percent of exports).

Fruit led the export rise, up $118 million (137 percent) to $204 million. Kiwifruit was up sharply in both value (up $112 million to reach $165 million) and quantity (190 percent) due to October typically being a low month for kiwifruit exports:

• green kiwifruit was up $71 million

• gold kiwifruit up $41 million.

Meat and edible offal rose $74 million (20 percent) to $450 million; quantity was up 12 percent.

Petroleum and products (other than crude) rose $50 million (43 percent) to $72 million; quantity was up 72 percent.

Milk powder, butter, and cheese fell $43 million (3.3 percent) to 1.2 billion. Quantity fell 6.3 percent. Milk powder led this fall (down $45 million or 6.8 percent). Quantity was down 12 percent.