6457.0 - International Trade Price Indexes, Australia, Sep 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/10/2010   
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COMMENTARY


IMPORT PRICE INDEX

The Import Price Index increased by 0.7% in the September quarter 2010. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices paid for iron and steel (+9.9%) and inorganic chemicals (+18.3%). Partly offsetting these rises were decreases in the prices paid for telecommunications and sound-recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (-2.2%), and petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (-0.9%).

Through the year to September quarter 2010, the Import Price Index decreased by 1.5%. This decrease was driven mainly by falls in the prices paid for road vehicles (including air-cushioned vehicles) (-5.0%), telecommunication and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (-11.0%), office machines and automatic data-processing machines (-8.5%) and general industrial machinery and equipment, n.e.s., and machine parts, n.e.s. (-6.2%). Partly offsetting these through the year falls were increases in the prices paid for gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (+19.3%).


EXPORT PRICE INDEX

The Export Price Index increased by 7.8% in the September quarter 2010. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices received for metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+14.6%), coal, coke and briquettes (+17.4%), gas, natural and manufactured (+15.6%), meat and meat preparations (+3.8%) and chemical materials and products, n.e.s. (+19.1%). These increases were partly offset by falls in the prices received for petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (-6.4%), sugars, sugar preparations and honey (-14.9%), non-ferrous metals (-2.2%) and professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus, n.e.s. (-9.3%).

Through the year to September quarter 2010, the Export Price Index increased by 27.7%. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices received for metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+70.1%), coal, coke and briquettes (+33.6%), gas, natural and manufactured (+55.7%), gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (+19.4%) and petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+5.4%). Partly offsetting these through the year rises were decreases in the prices received for cereals and cereal preparations (-9.5%).