New Zealand had a merchandise trade deficit of NZ$1.436 billion in September, Statistics New Zealand said on Thursday.

That missed forecasts for a shortfall of NZ$1.123 billion following the NZ$1.265 billion deficit in August.

Exports came in at NZ$3.47 billion, beneath forecasts for NZ$3.55 billion but up from NZ$3.38 billion in the previous month.

Imports were at NZ$4.90 billion versus expectations for NZ$4.65 billion and up from NZ$4.62 billion a month earlier.