China's taste for hotpot has driven a four-fold increase in the price of lamb flaps, turning the offcut into a premium cut for kiwi farmers.

New Zealand's trade surplus widened in March as Chinese demand for dairy continues to soar, driving annual export receipts to new records.

Farmers are being cautioned to prepare contingency plans amid early signs of a large El Nino climate event this year.

New Zealand's exports to China are increasing exponentially. In the three years prior to signing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2008 our exports increased on average by a little under 4 per cent.

Infant formula companies are shocked after learning the details of new regulations they will face from next month when selling product in China.

The proposed codeshare between Air NZ and Singapore Airlines has been given the all clear from Competition Commission Singapore.

As New Zealand prepares for the Easter break, we thought it was a good time for some chocolate trade statistics.

Turners & Growers, has agreed to buy Hawke's Bay-based Apollo Apples for as much as $44.1 million as it looks to meet growing global demand.

The Ports of Auckland said it had handled a record number of containers in March, beating the previous record set last October.

The Middle East remains an untapped business opportunity for exporters as their focus is dominated by booming Asian markets such as China.

Even our most successful exporters pay a price for the dollar's overvaluation - ask our dairy farmers, writes Bryan Gould. Export profits are lower than they would be if the dollar was at a more competitive level.

A substantially lower payout from Fonterra for 2014/15 looks likely after international dairy prices dropped sharply at yesterday's international dairy auction, economists said.

World prices for a basket of New Zealand's export commodities flattened out last month as declining prices for dairy products offset widespread gains elsewhere.

Prices have plunged nearly 9 per cent in the latest overnight global dairy auction. It is the fourth consecutive fall in prices, with average prices falling 5.2 per cent on March 18.

The bulk of New Zealand's imports come through the Ports of Auckland while the Port of Tauranga is the undisputed king of the export trade.

Zespri is predicting a rise in the harvest of gold kiwifruit this season after two years of decline.

The European Union's agreement to pursue a free trade pact with this country represents a significant step forward.

John Key says the EU has agreed to consider a free trade deal with New Zealand.

Warren Adamson is sales director for winery Craggy Range.

An award-winning superyacht exporter has been forced to axe more than 70 jobs and is blaming the Government for failing to take action against the strong NZ dollar.

Experienced, well set up, established and organised: Plantae sales and marketing manager Janelle Priest talks about attributes to look for in a partner.

It is unfortunate that some Government sloppiness about business relationships has clouded the coverage of John Key's trip to China, writes Liam Dann.

You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, says Sharon-May McCrostie, on the subject of finding good overseas distributors.

Editorial: A recurring worry about this country's economic wellbeing is the potential for it to be rapidly undone by a change of heart in Beijing.