A strong primary sector performance has produced a billion-dollar monthly trade surplus - for the first time in five years.

Stats NZ data reveals it sat on $1.4 billion dollars in April, compared with a $12 million dollar deficit for the same time last year.

Export NZ Executive Director, Joshua Tan, says it's a team effort across the food and fibre sector.

He says dairy, red meat, fruit and wood exports have all risen by millions of dollars.

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