OCTOBER KEY FIGURES

		Aug 2009	Sep 2009	Oct 2009	Sep 09 to Oct 09
		$m	$m	$m	% change
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES
	Trend estimates	-1 557	-1 814	-1 936	. .
	Seasonally adjusted	-1 616	-1 845	-2 379	. .
CREDITS (Exports of goods & services)
	Trend estimates	19 597	19 484	19 532	-
	Seasonally adjusted	19 303	20 171	19 468	-3
DEBITS (Imports of goods & services)
	Trend estimates	21 154	21 297	21 469	1
	Seasonally adjusted	20 919	22 017	21 847	-1
. . not applicable
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

Balance on Goods and Services

OCTOBER KEY POINTS


BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES

• The trend estimate of the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,936m in October 2009, an increase of $122m on a revised deficit in September 2009.
• In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $2,379m in October 2009, an increase of $534m on a revised deficit in September 2009.

CREDITS (EXPORTS OF GOODS & SERVICES)

• Seasonally adjusted, goods and services credits fell $703m (3%) to $19,468m. Non-rural goods fell $325m (3%) with the coal, coke and briquettes component down $344m (12%), the metal ores and minerals component down $267m (7%) and the other mineral fuels component up $217m (18%). Rural goods fell $156m (8%) and non-monetary gold fell $235m (17%). Services credits rose $31m (1%).

DEBITS (IMPORTS OF GOODS & SERVICES)

• Seasonally adjusted, goods and services debits fell $170m (1%) to $21,847m. Intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $207m (3%) with the fuels and lubricants component down $236m (10%). Non-monetary gold fell $66m (9%), consumption goods fell $42m (1%) and capital goods rose $35m (1%). Services debits rose $111m (2%).

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE	Release Date
November 2009	7 January 2010
December 2009	3 February 2010
January 2010	4 March 2010
February 2010	1 April 2010
March 2010	6 May 2010
April 2010	3 June 2010

REVISIONS

Revisions have been made to incorporate the latest available data relating to merchandise trade. There were no revisions to the balance of payments series in original terms. Seasonally adjusted and trend series have been revised as the incorporation of estimates for the latest month results in revised seasonal factors under the concurrent seasonal adjustment methodology.


CHANGES TO EXPORT AND IMPORT STATISTICAL CODES

Statistical codes in the Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC) and the Customs Tariff classifications will be revised with new codes coming into effect on 1 January 2010. The changes result from the introduction of new statistical codes for identifying ozone depleting substances and will only affect chapters 29 and 38. The changes will not impact directly on the presentation of statistics in this publication but will impact on detailed import and export statistics provided via ABS Client Services.

The Australian Harmonized Export Commodity Classification (AHECC), Jan 2007 (cat. no. 1233.0) will be updated on the ABS web site on 17 December 2009. Revised pages for the Customs Tariff will be re-issued shortly by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service. For further information contact the Classification Manager on (02) 6252 5409 or e-mail <international.trade@abs.gov.au>.


INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SERVICES

International Trade in Services by Country, by State and by Detailed Services Category, Calendar Year, 2008-09 (cat. no. 5368.0.55.004) is released concurrently with this issue. The data cubes in this release contain trade in services credits and debits data on a BPM6 basis for country and country groups and state by calendar years. Table 9 International trade in services, credits and debits, detailed service by year is ceased from this issue. For details see Time Series Data.


INQUIRIES

For further information contact Selvi Sekhar on Canberra (02) 6252 5540 for goods, and Karen McGuigan on Canberra (02) 6252 5415 for services.