SYDNEY (Reuters) - Prices for New Zealand's main commodities rose in May, lifted by a surge in apple and kiwifruit prices, ANZ Bank's commodity price index showed on Tuesday.
The index gained 3.2 percent for the month from April, compared with a 0.2 percent fall in the previous month. On an annual basis the index was 26.3 percent higher, ahead of a 23.7 percent rise the month before.
The biggest gainer was the horticulture sector, rising 12.1 percent for the month, boosted by a 14 percent rise in kiwifruit values, and apple price rises. Dairy products, the country's biggest export earner, were up 3 percent and are 50 percent higher than they were a year ago.
Globally, dairy prices have risen at five fortnightly auctions in a row, with the latest auction results due out overnight.
(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
