Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in New Zealand
New Zealand: Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) was 12.0% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Fuel imports in New Zealand, 1964–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, fuel imports in New Zealand stood at 12.0%.
The figure is down 9.7% on the previous year and up 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fuel imports in New Zealand peaked at 22.5% in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.3%, in 1995.
That places New Zealand 118th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 62 years of available data.
Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports) in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 8.4% | — |
| 1965 | 6.8% | -19.8% |
| 1966 | 7.5% | +10.6% |
| 1967 | 7.8% | +4.0% |
| 1968 | 9.2% | +17.7% |
| 1969 | 8.1% | -11.5% |
| 1970 | 6.7% | -17.1% |
| 1971 | 7.4% | +10.6% |
| 1972 | 7.4% | -0.6% |
| 1973 | 7.2% | -2.6% |
| 1974 | 11.7% | +62.8% |
| 1975 | 14.3% | +22.1% |
| 1976 | 14.6% | +2.2% |
| 1977 | 15.3% | +4.9% |
| 1978 | 14.0% | -8.5% |
| 1979 | 15.9% | +13.6% |
| 1980 | 22.5% | +40.9% |
| 1981 | 19.4% | -13.5% |
| 1982 | 16.6% | -14.6% |
| 1983 | 18.1% | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 13.4% | -25.8% |
| 1985 | 12.7% | -5.4% |
| 1986 | 8.6% | -31.9% |
| 1987 | 6.7% | -22.8% |
| 1988 | 5.4% | -18.8% |
| 1989 | 6.0% | +11.1% |
| 1990 | 7.7% | +27.3% |
| 1991 | 7.6% | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 6.5% | -13.7% |
| 1993 | 6.4% | -2.2% |
| 1994 | 5.6% | -13.0% |
| 1995 | 5.3% | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 6.3% | +18.3% |
| 1997 | 6.6% | +4.2% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | -7.0% |
| 2000 | 10.4% | +69.4% |
| 2001 | 10.0% | -4.4% |
| 2002 | 9.4% | -5.5% |
| 2003 | 9.4% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | +12.3% |
| 2005 | 12.1% | +15.2% |
| 2006 | 14.8% | +22.0% |
| 2007 | 14.4% | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 17.7% | +22.4% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | -17.6% |
| 2010 | 15.4% | +5.5% |
| 2011 | 17.2% | +12.2% |
| 2012 | 17.7% | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 16.9% | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 15.1% | -10.9% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | -33.6% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | -14.7% |
| 2017 | 9.4% | +10.6% |
| 2018 | 12.1% | +28.5% |
| 2019 | 11.1% | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 8.6% | -22.3% |
| 2021 | 8.1% | -5.5% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | +41.7% |
| 2023 | 14.5% | +25.6% |
| 2024 | 13.3% | -7.8% |
| 2025 | 12.0% | -9.7% |
New Zealand compared with similar countries
- New Zealand's 12.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 9.0%, 1.3× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- New Zealand's 12.0% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 17.0%, 71% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 8.0% | 6.8% | 9.2% | 6 |
| 1970s | 11.5% | 6.7% | 15.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.9% | 5.4% | 22.5% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.5% | 5.3% | 7.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.3% | 9.4% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 8.5% | 17.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 8.1% | 14.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Ores and metals imports 2.1% (2025)
- Fuel exports 0.9% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 3.3% (2025)
- Gas production 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 35.27 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 6,765 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fuel imports in New Zealand?
- Fuel imports in New Zealand was 12.0% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest fuel imports recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 1980.
- What is the lowest fuel imports recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.3% in 1995.
- How does New Zealand rank for fuel imports?
- New Zealand ranks 118th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fuel imports rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Fuels comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) section 3 (mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.