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.

NZ Trade Ministry spokesman says access for agricultural products to customs union is key sticking point.

News that China may have become the world's largest trading nation had an air of inevitability about it, writes Stephen Jacobi. Yet even as we learn to ride the Chinese wave, we need to keep our options open.

Ports of Auckland has notched up its best two months and an analyst says it has seized container volume share back from Port of Tauranga.

Govt defends decision to award $8m ferry contract to a Bangladesh firm

Herald business editor Liam Dann says the new Fonterra recall needs to be kept in perspective - but the world is watching the dairy giant much more closely now.

The export of logs to China is driving an increase in the value of NZ's forestry products - now worth more than $4.5 billion a year.

New Zealand reported its first trade surplus for the month of November in 22 years as rising dairy exports into China made it the country's biggest trading partner.

The New Zealand wine industry has continued its turnaround in 2013, posting a record grape harvest and improved profitably for wineries.

Unemployment is tipped to fall and wages rise as consumer confidence hits a four-year high.

British shoppers have noticed that their favourite Anchor butter tastes different - with the explanation being it's no longer from New Zealand.

Federated Farmers says a report on Fonterra's botulism scare has highlighted the need for a stronger food safety regime.

We must first conquer our island syndrome and pull together if we are ever to win the world from the edge, writes Kevin Roberts.

International dairy product prices are pushing sharply higher, driven by strong demand from China.