New Zealand has recorded the largest trade surplus in seven years for the month of March - more than $320,000,000.

Figures released by Statistics New Zealand showed that exports for March were almost 18% higher than a year ago, topping four billion dollars for the first time.

Chief Executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce, John Christie, says that the surplus is great news for our country's economy, which relies on growing export trade.

Christie went on to say that the Otago community as a whole would benefit, as a lot of our industry revolves around the agricultural sector, which benefits from solid export figures.