Simulation company Flight Experience was put in receivership last week by its bankers, owed $4 million.

Bridgestone's Japanese owners blame tougher global competition for the closure. They are also shutting a plant in Adelaide.

Manufacturing staff at Norwegian-owned Navico in New Zealand are facing a grim future.

NZ's export commodity prices made their biggest monthly rise in 22 years last montth, rising 6.8 per cent from August, the ANZ Commodity Price Index shows.