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.

Dairy product prices have kept falling in the latest overnight, falling 2.6 per cent to 14-month low, paced by whole milk powder.

NZ's "buoyant" manufacturing sector expanded for a 19th consecutive month as domestic demand for goods fuels economic momentum.

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.

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.

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.

John Key's visit to China has been well covered by the NZ press, but his presence has also made a splash in the Chinese media, with his visit labelled as 'pioneering'.

NZ and China have increased the goal for two-way trade to reach $30 billion by 2020 at a meeting between PM John Key and China's President Xi Jinping last night.

Chinese consumers regard NZ milk products as less safe than those produced in our key dairy competitors like the US and Europe, Massey University research suggests.

Prime Minister John Key has made it clear in Chinese media that New Zealand knows it is on notice over food safety, saying there was now "no room for error."