Total exports reached an all-time high in May - despite a continued downward trend in the Chinese market

Last month's exports were valued at 7.2 billion dollars for the first time.

China was the number one market - but beef exports dropped 45 percent compared to last year.

Export NZ advocacy director Catherine Beard says she believes Chinese demand will come back because they are so large.

She says the growth won't be as big as it's been for the last five-to-ten years, as their economy is re-balancing.