JANUARY KEY FIGURES

		Nov 2012	Dec 2012	Jan 2013	Dec 12 to Jan 13
		$m	$m	$m	% change
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES
	Trend estimates	–1 707	–1 509	–1 270	16
	Seasonally adjusted	–2 366	–688	–1 057	–54
CREDITS (Exports of goods & services)
	Trend estimates	24 580	24 734	24 931	1
	Seasonally adjusted	24 693	25 208	25 023	–1
DEBITS (Imports of goods & services)
	Trend estimates	26 287	26 243	26 200	–
	Seasonally adjusted	27 059	25 896	26 081	1
– nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

Balance on Goods and Services

JANUARY KEY POINTS


BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES

• In trend terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,270m in January 2013, a fall of $239m (16%) on the deficit in December 2012.
• In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,057m in January 2013, a rise of $369m (54%) on the deficit in December 2012.

CREDITS (EXPORTS OF GOODS & SERVICES)

• In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services credits fell $185m (1%) to $25,023m. Non-rural goods fell $424m (3%) and rural goods fell $81m (3%). Non-monetary gold rose $211m (17%) and net exports of goods under merchanting rose $10m (200%). Services credits rose $98m (2%).

DEBITS (IMPORTS OF GOODS & SERVICES)

• In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services debits rose $185m (1%) to $26,081m. Capital goods rose $292m (5%) and consumption goods rose $166m (3%). Intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $258m (3%) and non-monetary gold fell $6m (2%). Services debits fell $10m.

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE	Release Date
February 2013	3 April 2013
March 2013	7 May 2013
April 2013	6 June 2013
May 2013	3 July 2013
June 2013	6 August 2013
July 2013	5 September 2013

REVISIONS

Since the previous issue of this publication revisions have been made to align with the data published in the December quarter 2012 issues of Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (cat. no. 5302.0) and Australian National Accounts: National Income, Expenditure and Product (cat. no. 5206.0). On an international merchandise trade basis, exports and imports have been revised back to July 2012. On a balance of payments basis goods and services have been revised back to January 2012.

See the Revisions section for details.


CHANGES IN THIS AND FORTHCOMING ISSUES

Changes in this issue:

• Change to the composition of the Euro area category
• Change to restriction on exports of aluminium oxide or alumina
• AHECC and Customs Tariff
• New preference scheme code and amendments to labels.

Changes in forthcoming issues:

• Amendment to schedule 4 of Customs tariff.

See the Changes in this and forthcoming issues section for details.


VALUE ADJUSTMENTS

Adjustments have been made to the value of the 'metal ores and minerals' and 'capital goods n.e.s.' components in the balance of payments series.

See the Value adjustments section for details.


RELATED RELEASE

The Information Paper: Amendments to Schedule 4 of Customs Tariff (cat. no. 5368.0.55.019) will be released on 19 March 2013. It includes information on new treatment codes, commodity codes and a correspondence between the ceasing codes and the replacement codes.


INQUIRIES

For further information contact Val Tot on Canberra (02) 6252 5540 for Goods, and Lauren Binns on Hobart (03) 6222 5926 for Services.