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APRIL KEY FIGURES

	February 2006	March 2006	April 2006	Mar 06 to Apr 06
	$m	$m	$m	% change
Trend
Balance on goods & services	-1 361	-1 235	-1 142	. .
Credits (exports of goods & services)	16 334	16 547	16 697	1
Debits (imports of goods & services)	17 695	17 782	17 839	-
Seasonally Adjusted
Balance on goods & services	-430	-1 509	-1 093	. .
Credits (exports of goods & services)	16 944	16 105	16 904	5
Debits (imports of goods & services)	17 374	17 614	17 997	2
. . not applicable
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

Balance on goods and services

• The provisional trend estimate of the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,142m in April 2006, a decrease of $93m on the revised deficit in March.
• Goods and services credits rose $150m (1%) to $16,697m. Goods and services debits rose $57m to $17,839m.

• In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $1,093m in April, a decrease of $416m on the revised deficit in March.
• Goods and services credits rose $799m (5%) to $16,904m. Non-rural and other goods rose $796m (8%) while rural goods fell $51m (2%). Services credits rose $54m (2%).
• Goods and services debits rose $383m (2%) to $17,997m. Intermediate and other goods rose $465m (7%) and consumption goods rose $201m (5%), while capital goods fell $311m (9%). Services debits rose $28m (1%).

• In original terms, the April balance on goods and services was a deficit of $70m, a decrease of $1,088m on the deficit in March. Goods and services credits rose $178m (1%) and goods and services debits fell $910m (5%).
• In the ten months to April, exports of non-rural and other goods were up $21.6b (26%) while rural goods were down $0.5b (3%) on the corresponding period in 2004-05.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Tom Jebbink on Canberra (02) 6252 5540.

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS


BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES

The trend estimate of the balance on goods and services in April 2006 was a deficit of $1,142m, a decrease of $93m on the deficit in March.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services in April 2006 was a deficit of $1,093m, a decrease of $416m on the deficit in March.

EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES

The trend estimate of goods and services credits rose $150m (1%) between March and April to $16,697m.

In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services credits rose $799m (5%) to $16,904m. Other goods rose $456m (51%), non-rural goods rose $340m (4%), while rural goods fell $51m (2%). Services credits rose $54m (2%).

Exports of goods

GOODS CREDITS

In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of rural goods fell $51m (2%) to $2,210m.

The movements in the seasonally adjusted components contributing to this fall were:

• cereal grains and cereal preparations, down $41m (8%)
• other rural, down $22m (2%).

In original terms, exports of rural goods fell $152m (6%) to $2,187m.

Non-rural goods

The trend estimate of non-rural goods exports rose $25m to $10,034m.

In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of non-rural goods rose $340m (4%) to $10,033m.

The main movements in the seasonally adjusted components contributing to the
rise were:

• other mineral fuels, up $151m (15%)
• metal ores and minerals, up $133m (6%)
• other manufactures, up $84m (7%)
• metals (excluding non-monetary gold), up $25m (3%).

• machinery, down $23m (3%)
• other non-rural, down $22m (2%).

Movements in the original series contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted terms were:

• metal ores and minerals, up $95m (4%), compared to an average March to April
  rise of 1% over the previous three years, largely driven by:
  • non-agglomerated iron ore, up $70m (7%), with volumes up 13% and prices down 5%
  • zinc ore, up $49m (37%), with volumes down 3% and prices up 42%.
• other mineral fuels, up $52m (5%), in contrast to an average March to April fall of 9% over the previous three years.

In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of other goods rose $456m (51%) to $1,345m.

The main components contributing to the rise in the seasonally adjusted series were non-monetary gold, up $246m (46%) and goods for processing, up $209m (96%). Some non-monetary gold is included in goods for processing.

In original terms, exports of other goods rose $462m (52%) to $1,353m.

Exports of services

SERVICES CREDITS

Seasonally adjusted, services credits rose $54m (2%) to $3,316m.

The movements in the seasonally adjusted components contributing to this rise were:

• other services, up $25m (3%)
• travel services, up $22m (1%)
• transportation services, up $7m (1%).

IMPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES

The trend estimate of goods and services debits rose $57m between March and April to $17,839m.

In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services debits rose $383m (2%) to $17,997m. Other goods rose $234m (36%), intermediate and other merchandise goods rose $231m (4%), consumption goods rose $201m (5%), while capital goods fell $311 (9%). Services debits rose $28m (1%).

Imports of goods

GOODS DEBITS

In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of consumption goods rose $201m (5%) to $4,381m.

All components contributed to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimates. The movements were:

• consumption goods n.e.s., up $57m (4%)
• textiles, clothing and footwear, up $50m (9%)
• non-industrial transport equipment, up $27m (2%)
• toys, books and leisure goods, up $26m (7%)
• food and beverages, mainly for consumption, up $23m (4%)
• household electrical items, up $18m (5%).

CAPITAL GOODS

The trend estimate of imports of capital goods fell $52m (2%) to $3,409m.

In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of capital goods fell $311m (9%) to $3,303m.

The main components contributing to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimates were:

• civil aircraft, down $241m
• industrial transport equipment n.e.s., down $128m (22%).

• machinery and industrial equipment, up $25m (2%)
• capital goods n.e.s., up $23m (5%).

INTERMEDIATE AND OTHER MERCHANDISE GOODS

The trend estimate of imports of intermediate goods rose $35m (1%) to $6,137m.

In seasonally adjusted terms, intermediate goods imports rose $231m (4%) to $6,193m.

The main components contributing to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimates were:

• other parts for capital goods, up $147m (18%)
• processed industrial supplies n.e.s., up $116m (10%)
• organic and inorganic chemicals, up $80m (27%)
• other merchandise goods, up $47m (64%).

• fuels and lubricants, down $160m (8%), largely driven by crude petroleum, down $231m (18%), with volumes down 20% and prices up 2%
• iron and steel, down $27m (10%).

OTHER GOODS

The trend estimate of imports of other goods rose $56m (8%) to $769m.

In seasonally adjusted terms, other goods imports rose $234m (36%) to $877m.

The main component contributing to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimates was goods for processing, up $220m (45%). Some non-monetary gold is included in goods for processing.

In original terms, other goods imports rose $229m (35%) to $876m.

Imports of services

SERVICES DEBITS

Seasonally adjusted, services debits rose $28m (1%) to $3,243m.

The movements in the seasonally adjusted components contributing to this rise were:

• travel services, up $19m (2%)
• other services, up $11m (1%).

Seasonally adjusted, tourism related services debits rose $19m (1%) to $1,687m.