Exporters ‘delighted’

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 17

Exporters ‘delighted’

PA Wellington The Export Institute says it is delighted with the balance-of-payment figures for the September quarter which show that exports increased 10 per cent in comparison with the same period last year. Goods worth $2600 million were exported while the value of goods imported increased by only 0.5 per cent.

The president of the insti-

tute, Mr John Lister, said he was surprised by the boost, given earlier predictions of a drop in export trade. Mr Lister said a breakdown of the sector group figures would show which ones had been hardest hit by the high value of the dollar. Of the manufacturing, agricultural, and the horticultural sectors, the manufacturing sector had been hardest hit, followed by the agricultural sector.

The horticulturists had been buoyed by seasonal exports, but Mr Lister said the main reason the market had remained, high was “damn good selling” by exporters. “Obviously they have got out there, they have been able to find ways round the currency situation, they have hedged themselves properly, they have been able to maintain their business — which is damn good management,” he said.