Exporters are providing a bright side to business confidence, reporting an improvement in orders compared with the same time last year.
Of exporters surveyed in the DHL annual export barometer, 59% anticipated an increase in their export orders in the next 12 months.
In terms of profitability, 54% of exporters expected an increase in profits in the next year.
DHL Express general manager Derek Anderson said exporters were proving resilient.
"It's positive to see that despite some of the doom and gloom that's being reported, they are still making headway with their businesses."
Nearly 40% of exporters expected to increase the number of full-time staff in their organisations.
That was more likely to be seen in the service sector than other sectors, he said.
More than 70% of businesses expected to give staff a wage increase in the next 12 months, with the manufacturing sector more likely to expect a wage increase for employees than other sectors.
"What's great to see is the investment in staff. Maintaining and retaining good staff is a priority, because you can't run a successful company without them," Mr Anderson said.
The survey result was taken from the responses of 350 ex-perienced New Zealand expor-ters.
