John Key has pulled out of a Beijing meet-and-greet session for NZ dairy companies and their local business partners after a dinner invite from the Chinese President.

Asian consumers increasingly viewing health supplements as "an investment rather than an expense" are driving growth in New Zealand's natural products industry.

New Zealand manufacturing activity expanded for an 18th straight month in February with signs a buoyant economy is creating jobs.

Fonterra says it has accepted charges laid against it by the Ministry for Primary Industries over events that led to last year's recall of whey protein concentrate.

China's shifting emphasis on consumption could be a golden opportunity for New Zealand companies, says a visiting trade delegation.

A string of National Party high-flyers have been entertained by the milk exporter at the centre of a conflict of interest row involving Justice Minister Judith Collins

Six dead babies - that's what it took to create a whole new market segment for New Zealand's dairy industry.

Justice Minister Judith Collins said she told milk product company Oravida that it could not use her photograph or name to endorse its products prior to visiting it in China.

New Zealand commodity prices rose to a record in February, as cheese prices surged to a six-year high.

New Zealand's terms of trade rose to a 40-year high for the second straight quarter in the final three months of 2013 as import prices fell.

Surging dairy exports to China have pushed the annual trade balance into surplus for the first time in nearly two years.

There's no room for shoddy and cheap Chinese exports anymore, says a visiting Chinese trade boss.

Infant formula exporters are on edge before an audit of local manufacturing facilities by Chinese officials next month.

Strong demand for New Zealand's main commodity exports has prompted the Ministry for Primary Industry to revise up its revenue forecast by $4.9 billion to $36.5 billion.

Forecasts for exports of dairy products, meat and forestry have been raised by the Ministry for Primary Industries citing growing demand and limited supplies.

Dairy product prices recorded their biggest drop since early November in the latest global auction, with the volume sold falling to an eight-month low.

Imagine you own a business. Would you be happy selling 46 per cent of your top product to just one buyer? That is how New Zealand sells its milk powder to China.

Westpac has revised up its NZ growth forecast for 2014 to 4.2% and expects the Kiwi dollar to remain high against the US and Aussie dollars.

Australian supermarkets are dropping New Zealand-made products even if an alternative cannot be sourced locally, producers say, as concerns increase about whether the patriotic shut-out on foreign goods could expand to more product lines.