WELLINGTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand goods exports in April have remained at high levels, just below the record levels seen in March this year, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Friday.

In April 2019, the value of total goods exports rose 12 percent from April 2018 to reach 5.5 billion NZ dollars (3.6 billion U.S. dollars). This month's increase was driven by dairy products, logs, and kiwifruit, according to Stats NZ.

Dairy products, which is New Zealand's largest export commodity group, led the rise in exports, up 124 million NZ dollars to 1.3 billion NZ dollars in April 2019, it said.

"As we approach the end of the dairy season, we are still seeing high values and quantities of dairy products being exported," international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said in a statement.

"Often the movement in total dairy exports is dominated by our main markets, particularly China," Islam said.

Milk powder was the main contributor to the overall rise in dairy, up 137 million NZ dollars in value on a year earlier. This rise contrasts with milk fats, including butter, which was down 60 million NZ dollars, he said.