← Overview

Strategic Lens

Japan and New Zealand

First country

Second country

In 2025, Japan sold USD 2.18 billion of goods to New Zealand and bought USD 2.58 billion from it. The DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP) (2018). Both are members of the OECD and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 91 percent in 2023, and 90 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.

Benefits

  • BothTrade in goods runs both ways in similar amounts: Japan sold USD 2.18 billion and New Zealand sold USD 2.58 billion in 2025.
  • BothComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP), signed 2018 and in force since 2018.
  • BothBoth are members of the OECD and APEC.

Constraints

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils is 52 percent below its 2022 peak of USD 481 million.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, New Zealand sold USD 1.60 billion of agricultural and food products, against USD 34.5 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Japan sold USD 1.62 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel, against USD 34.3 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 4.76 billion
2025, as reported by Japan
Japan to New Zealand
USD 2.18 billion
2025, as reported by Japan
New Zealand to Japan
USD 2.58 billion
2025, as reported by Japan

What connects Japan and New Zealand

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Japan sold USD 2.18 billion of goods to New Zealand and bought USD 2.58 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Japan sold USD 185 million of mineral fuels and oils to New Zealand and bought USD 46.6 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Japan sold USD 34.5 million of agricultural and food products to New Zealand and bought USD 1.60 billion from it.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Japan sold USD 1.62 billion of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to New Zealand and bought USD 34.3 million from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Japan sold USD 28.8 million of electrical and electronic equipment to New Zealand and bought USD 11.8 million from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, Japan sold USD 6.2 million of pharmaceutical products to New Zealand and bought USD 11.3 million from it.

Security

Nuclear and spaceIn 2025, Japan sold USD 28.9 million of nuclear materials, reactors and spacecraft to New Zealand.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Transpacific Partnership (CPTPP) (2018).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of the OECD and APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 91 percent in 2023, and 90 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 13 thousand people born in Japan lived in New Zealand, and 4 thousand people born in New Zealand lived in Japan.

← Oceania