New Zealand’s Jan-May apparel imports drop 4%, textile fabrics surge

New Zealand’s apparel imports fell 3.9 per cent year on year to NZ$873.72 million in January-May 2026, reflecting weaker demand for both knitted and non-knitted garments.
However, imports rose 1.3 per cent in May.
Textile fabric imports increased 20.2 per cent during the five-month period, while apparel exports jumped 24.4 per cent in May, driven by knitted garments.