We're importing from China in record amounts

Stats NZ says imports in October reached 1.5 billion dollars ... an increase on the same month last year of 430 million.

It's the largest increase for monthly Chinese imports on record ... and came as the countries mark the 10-year anniversary of our free trade agreement.

The increase was reciprocal - exports to China rose by 242 million, to 1.2 billion dollars, on the same month last year.

China is New Zealand's largest trading partner.

It's a key supplier of goods such as cellphones and computers, and is a big export market for dairy products, wood, and meat.