Value of Australian exports up 22.6%
Simon Crean
posted Sunday, 17 January 2010
New trade figures show that almost all of Australia's states and territories increased the value of their exports despite the impact of the global downturn, Trade Minister Simon Crean said.
Last financial year the value of Australian exports rose 22.6 per cent to $283.8 billion from $231.5 billion in 2007-08 and today the government is releasing a comprehensive breakdown of how the states and territories performed.
"Strong commodity prices, demand from China and Australia's diversified trade base were factors in the resilient performance of the nation's exporters in the face of the global economic crisis," Mr Crean said.
"The new ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect on 1 January this year, will help states and territories to build existing markets, gain new markets and diversify their exports in the fastest growing region of the world," Mr Crean said.
The trade analysis shows that Western Australia was again the nation's leading export earner with exports rising almost 25 per cent on the back of high prices for iron ore and gold.
Queensland recorded the steepest rise in exports of 48 per cent overtaking NSW as Australia's second-largest exporting state.
All States and Territories except Tasmania and South Australia recorded increases in exports compared with the previous year.
" Western Australia continues to perform strongly and remains our leading export earner," Mr Crean said.
"The value of exports from Queensland has surged mainly on the back of higher coal prices and an increase in beef exports."
"New South continues to perform strongly with the value of exports still rising by 20 per cent and the state is the nation's leading services exporter," Mr Crean said.
The figures are contained in Australia's Trade by State and Territory 2008-09, which provides a complete statistical guide to exports and imports of goods and services for every State and Territory on a financial year basis. It is available free on the DFAT website at http://www.dfat.gov.au/trade
The state and territory breakdowns are:
Western Australia: $92.1 billion (up 24.2 per cent)
Strong prices pushed up iron ore exports 67.5 per cent to $33.5 billion, and gold 40.2 per cent to $16.8 billion. Natural gas exports rose 58.1 per cent to $7.6 billion, while wheat exports jumped 51.7 per cent to $2.7 billion.
Queensland: $65.5 billion (up 48.3 per cent)
Like WA, strong prices were behind a 130.1 per cent spike in coal exports by value, while beef increased 13.4 per cent to $3.1 billion. Fuel exports rose 125.4 per cent to $30.5 billion.
NSW: $60.4 billion (up 19.9 per cent)
Coal exports were up 110.7 per cent to $12.9 billion but the value of exports of aluminium, copper ores, refined petroleum and medicaments all fell. NSW's services exports rose 6.7 per cent to $21.6 billion - the highest of any state.
Victoria: $33.1 billion (up 1.8 per cent)
Dairy produce (milk and cream) rose 7.3 per cent to $1.4 billion and meat exports jumped 13.1 per cent to $742 million. Medicaments were up 40.3 per cent to almost $1 billion while passenger motor vehicles fell 13.0 per cent to $1.7 billion.
South Australia: $11.5 billion (down 6.4 per cent)
Wine exports fell 14.6 per cent to $1.6 billion, copper fell 7.8 per cent to $1.0 billion. Passenger motor vehicles were down 35.0 per cent to $896 million, but wheat rose 31.3 per cent to $764 million. Services exports (mostly travel services) grew 2.1 per cent to $2.0 billion.
Northern Territory: $7.1 billion (up 32.7 per cent)
Natural gas shot up 135.5 per cent to $2.5 billion, and pearls and gems increased 69.3 per cent to $237 million. Export volumes from the Territory were up 16.5 per cent, the highest of any state or territory.
Tasmania: $ 3.9 billion (down 4.3 per cent)
Zinc exports fell 24.6 per cent to $562 million and aluminium was down 11.9 per cent to $424 million. Other ores and concentrates (mainly tin and manganese ores) was up 15.4 per cent to $165 million.
ACT: $ 1.0 billion (up 5.7 per cent)
Principally a services exporter, education-related travel rose 18.7 per cent to $260 million.
Tags: China, Exports, GFC, Labor Government, Trade