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24/02/2009 Note: Preliminary analysis shows that goods imports (debits) on a balance of payments basis decreased by $1,713m (8%) in seasonally adjusted terms between December 2008 and January 2009. Intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $1,059m (12%) with fuels and lubricants down $322m (15%), processed industrial supplies n.e.s. down $320m (16%) and iron and steel down $226m (33%). Capital goods fell $802m (15%). Consumption goods fell $182m (3%). Other goods rose $329m (30%) with non monetary gold up $181m (23%).


JANUARY KEY FIGURES

	November 2008	December 2008	January 2009
	$m	$m	$m
Food and live animals	781	844	770
Beverages and tobacco	187	173	130
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels	287	277	252
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials	2 557	2 289	2 057
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes	79	46	49
Chemicals and related products, nes	2 068	2 109	1 884
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material	2 623	2 408	2 098
Machinery and transport equipment	7 832	7 448	6 122
Miscellaneous manufactured articles	2 783	2 571	2 425
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC	1 689	1 957	1 475
TOTAL	20 887	20 121	17 261

• In original terms, the January 2009 merchandise imports were $17,261m, a decrease of $2,860m (14%) on the revised December 2008 merchandise imports of $20,121m.

• The preliminary estimate of balance of payments goods debits (imports) for January 2009 is not available for the release of this issue. This estimate will be available from the ABS web site on 24 February 2009 as Additional Information on the summary tab of this issue.