CHANGES IN THIS AND FORTHCOMING ISSUES


CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

Changes applied to export data on a merchandise trade basis

International merchandise trade exports data presented in tables 12, 14 and 15 of this publication are based on information reported by exporters to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs and Border Protection). At the time of initial reporting to Customs and Border Protection, the final prices at which transactions take place are not known for some commodities. The information recorded for commodities such as iron ore and coal includes a variety of prices including previous or current contract prices and the prevailing spot prices. Newly negotiated contract prices are not fully reflected in the data first reported to Customs and Border Protection.

Data published on a balance of payments basis are adjusted by using estimates of actual final transaction prices. When actual final transaction prices become available, the estimates are replaced with these data. From this issue, these adjustments have been made to exports data, on a merchandise trade basis, at the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) level. The AHECC codes affected are:

• 26011110 Iron ores and concentrates, other than roasted iron pyrites, non-agglomerated, lump and run-of-mine
• 26011120 Iron ores and concentrates, other than roasted iron pyrites, non-agglomerated, fines.

This change has resulted in international merchandise trade data being a more accurate reflection of the value of exports crossing the customs frontier from when data are first published. The above codes contribute to metalliferous ores and scrap metal (SITC 28) on a merchandise trade basis, and the metal ores and minerals component of goods credits on a balance of payments basis. As such, balance of payments value adjustments are no longer applied to the metal ores and minerals component, however will continue to be applied to the coal, coke and briquettes on a balance of payments basis.


Impacts on services due to delays of Overseas Arrivals and Departures (OAD) data

A number of releases of Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0) have been delayed due to passenger card processing issues as announced by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). These delays impact on the transport and travel services series from October 2014 onwards. Caution should be used when interpreting the recent services credits and services debits estimates as they are based on forecast estimates compiled for this specific purpose rather than actual data.


Changes to the AHECC

Statistical codes in the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) - Electronic Publication, Jan 2012 (cat. no. 1233.0) have been revised with new codes that came into effect on 1 January 2015. The changes result from the introduction of new statistical codes in Chapter 28 regarding radioactive elements and isotopes and how they relate to the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958. The changes do not impact directly on the presentation of statistics in ABS publications but will impact on detailed export statistics available on request.

The following table shows the code that closed on 31 December 2014 and the replacement codes that opened on 1 January 2015.

	Closed 31/12/2014	Replaced by:
	28444000	28444010 and 28444090

Changes to Customs Tariff import classification

As a result of the import classification feasibility study into the creation of specific Combined Australian Customs Tariff Nomenclature and Statistical Classification (Customs Tariff), new statistical codes under subheadings 7227.90.90, 7228.70.00, 7308.90.00, 7312.10.00 and 7312.90.00 have been introduced. The full Customs Tariff is available on the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service website, www.customs.gov.au.

The closing of the old codes occurred on 31 December 2014 and the opening of the new codes occurred on 1 January 2015. The final changes are shown in the table below:

Previous Customs Tariff
	7227.90.90
	7227.90.90.42		NR	---OTHER
New Customs Tariff						New free standing descriptors
	7227.90.90			---OTHER
	7227.90.90.01		T	Containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during the rolling process		Bars and rods of alloy steel, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, containing indentations, ribs, grooves or other deformations produced during rolling (excl. those of stainless, high speed or silico-manganese steel & those of 7227901069)
	7227.90.90.02		T	Of circular cross-section measuring less than 14 mm in diameter		Bars and rods of alloy steel, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of circular cross-section measuring less than 14mm in diameter (excl. those of stainless, high speed or silico-manganese steel & those of HTISCs 7227901069 and 7227909001)
	7227.90.90.03		T	Of circular cross-section measuring 14 mm or more in diameter		Bars and rods of alloy steel, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils, of circular cross-section measuring 14mm or more in diameter (excl. those of stainless, high speed or silico-manganese steel and those of HTISCs 7227901069 and 7227909001)
	7227.90.90.04		T	Other		Bars and rods of alloy steel, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils (excl. those of stainless, high speed or silico-manganese steel and those of HTISCs 7227901069, 7227909001, 7227909002 and 7227909003)

Previous Customs Tariff
	7228.70.00
	7228.80.00.56		T	- Angles, shapes and sections
New Customs Tariff						New free standing descriptors
	7228.70.00			- Angles, shapes and sections
	7228.70.00.10		T	U, I, H or L sections, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of less than 80 mm		U, I, H or L sections of alloy steel (excl. those of stainless steel), not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of less than 80mm
	7228.70.00.11		T	U, I, H or L sections, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of 80 mm or more		U, I, H or L sections of alloy steel (excl. those of stainless steel), not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded, of a height of 80mm or more
	7228.70.00.12		T	Other		Angles, shapes and sections of alloy steel (excl. U, I, H or L sections, not further worked than hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded and those of stainless steel)

Previous Customs Tariff
	7308.90.00
	7308.90.00.49		NR	-OTHER
New Customs Tariff						New free standing descriptors
	7308.90.00			-OTHER
				Columns, pillars, posts, beams, girders, bracing, gantries, brackets, struts, ties and similar structural units
				. Roll formed structures
	7308.90.00.52		T	.. Hot rolled		Columns, pillars, posts, beams, girders, bracing, gantries, brackets, struts, ties and similar structural units, hot rolled, of iron or steel (excl. those of HTISCs 7308100001, 7308200002, 7308300003 and 7308400004)
	7308.90.00.53		T	.. Plated or coated with zinc or with aluminium-zinc alloys, of a thickness less than 1.2 mm		Columns, pillars, posts, beams, girders, bracing, gantries, brackets, struts, ties & similar structures, roll formed, plated or coated with zinc or aluminium-zinc alloys, < 1.2mm thick, of iron or steel (excl. hot rolled & 730810 to 730840)
	7308.90.00.54		T	.. Plated or coated with zinc or with aluminium-zinc alloys, of a thickness of 1.2 mm or more		Columns, pillars, posts, beams, girders, bracing, gantries, brackets, struts, ties & similar structures, roll formed, plated or coated with zinc or aluminium-zinc alloys, => 1.2mm thick, of iron or steel (excl. hot rolled & 730810 to 730840)
	7308.90.00.55		T	.. Other		Columns, pillars, posts, beams, girders, bracing, gantries, brackets, struts, ties and similar structural units, roll formed, of iron or steel (excl. hot rolled; plated or coated with zinc or aluminium-zinc alloys; and HS 730810 to 730840)
	7308.90.00.56		T	. Other		Columns, pillars, posts, beams, girders, bracing, gantries, brackets, struts, ties and similar structural units, of iron or steel (excl. roll formed structures and those of HTISCs 7308100001, 7308200002, 7308300003 and 7308400004)
	7308.90.00.57		T	Steel grating, stairways and treads		Steel grating, stairways and treads (excl. those of HTISCs 7308100001, 7308200002, 7308300003 and 7308400004)
	7308.90.00.58		T	Racking and shelving		Racking and shelving, of iron or steel (excl. those of HTISCs 7308100001, 7308200002, 7308300003 and 7308400004)
	7308.90.00.59		T	Sheet-metal roofing, siding, flooring and roof drainage equipment (or rainwater goods)		Sheet-metal roofing, siding, flooring and roof drainage equipment (or rainwater goods), of iron or steel (excl. those of HTISCs 7308100001, 7308200002, 7308300003 and 7308400004)
	7308.90.00.60		T	Handrails and stanchions		Handrails and stanchions, of iron or steel (excl. those of HTISCs 7308100001, 7308200002, 7308300003 and 7308400004)
	7308.90.00.61		T	Other		Structures and parts of structures and plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel (excl. goods of HTISCs 7308100001 to 7308900060 and prefabricated buildings of HS 9406)

Previous Customs Tariff
	7312.10.00			- Stranded wire, ropes and cables
	7312.10.00.75		KG	Brass coated steel cordage for reinforcing rubber tyres
	7312.10.00.35		KG	Other
New Customs Tariff						New free standing descriptors
	7312.10.00			- Stranded wire, ropes and cables
			KG	Brass coated steel cordage for reinforcing rubber tyres
				Other
	7312.10.00.76		KG	. Of stainless steel		Stranded wire ropes and cables, of stainless steel, not electrically insulated (excl. brass coated steel cordage for reinforcing rubber tyres)
			KG	. Other
			KG	.. Stress-relieved steel wire strand ( for example prestressed concrete strand or low-relaxation strand) of alloy or non-alloy steel
	7312.10.00.80		KG	... Of a diameter not exceeding 18 mm, containing not more than seven strands		Stress-relieved steel wire strand (e.g. prestressed concrete or low-relaxation) not electrically insulated, diameter not exceed 18mm, with not more than 7 strands (excl. of stainless steel & brass coated cordage for reinforcing rubber tyres)
	7312.10.00.81		KG	... Other		Stress-relieved steel wire strand (e.g. prestressed concrete or low-relaxation) not electrically insulated (excl. stainless steel; brass coated cord for reinforcing rubber tyres; strand with diameter not exc. 18mm & not more than 7 strands)
				.. Ropes and cables, containing not more than eight strands, of alloy or non-alloy steel
	7312.10.00.90		KG	... Of a diameter not exceeding 50 mm		Stranded steel ropes and cables, not electrically insulated, of diameter not exceeding 50mm, containing not more than 8 strands (excl. stainless steel; brass coated cord for reinforcing rubber tyres; and stress-relieved steel wire strand)
	7312.10.00.91		KG	... Of a diameter exceeding 50 mm but not exceeding 100 mm		Stranded steel ropes & cable, not electrically insulated, of a diameter exceed 50mm but not exceed 100mm, with not more than 8 strands (excl. stainless steel; brass coated cord for reinforcing rubber tyres; stress-relieved steel wire strand)
	7312.10.00.92		KG	... Of a diameter exceeding 100 mm		Stranded steel ropes and cables, not electrically insulated, of diameter exceeding 100mm, containing not more than 8 strands (excl. stainless steel; brass coated cord for reinforcing rubber tyres; and stress-relieved steel wire strand)
	7312.10.00.93		KG	.. Ropes and cables, containing more than eight strands, of alloy or non-alloy steel		Stranded steel ropes and cables, not electrically insulated, containing more than 8 strands, of alloy or non-alloy steel (excl. stainless steel; brass coated cord for reinforcing rubber tyres; and stress-relieved steel wire strand)
	7312.10.00.94		KG	.. Other		Stranded wire, of iron or steel, not electrically insulated (excl. of stainless steel; brass coated steel cordage for reinforcing rubber tyres; stress-relieved steel wire strand; and stranded steel ropes and cables)

Previous Customs Tariff
	7312.90.00.36		KG	-OTHER
New Customs Tariff						New free standing descriptors
	7312.90.00			-OTHER
	7312.90.00.40		KG	Slings		Plaited slings, of iron or steel, not electrically insulated
	7312.90.00.41		KG	Other		Plaited bands and the like (excl. slings) of iron or steel, not electrically insulated

CHANGES IN FORTHCOMING ISSUES

Delays of Overseas Arrivals and Departures (OAD) data

Contingency processing plans are now in place to ensure the regular scheduled releases of Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0) can resume as soon as possible. This includes the release of some preliminary OAD estimates for October, November and December 2014 published in the ABS publication Preliminary Estimates of Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0.30.001) released on 3 March 2015. These preliminary OAD estimates have been modelled based on a combination of historical OAD data and information about travellers for the relevant reference months from DIBP's traveller processing system. For further information refer to the Explanatory Notes of Preliminary Estimates of Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0.30.001). These estimates will be incorporated in the February 2015 issue of International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0) to be released on 2 April 2015.

Preliminary OAD estimates for January, February and March 2015 will be incorporated in the March quarter 2015 issue of Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (cat. no. 5302.0), resulting in a likely difference between the sum of the three months for transport and travel services series published in the March 2015 issue of International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0).