New Zealand’s trade surplus for June was a record $230million.

According to Statistics New Zealand, figure show a 4.5 per cent increase in the value of New Zealand exports to $12.2 billion in the three months to the end of June.

Dairy products and meat made up nearly 80 per cent of the increase.

But Federated Farmers are worried.

Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President, and economics and commerce spokesperson, says the June trade figures really show how all exporters are paying New Zealand’s way in the world.

And, while a recent Federated Farmers confidence survey showed farmers are increasingly confident in the future, the dollar is an emerging concern.

Mr Wills says the Kiwi dollar’s strength is helping keep a lid on inflation, but it is costing export returns.

The high dollar is also causing grief for fruit exporters.

The industry has been contracting for years, with volumes about two thirds of those 10 years ago. Growers are feeling the pinch across a range of crops and some are apparently only hanging on with the goodwill of the banks.