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CULTURAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES

In 2000–01, Australia's exports of cultural goods totalled $478 million or 0.4% of all goods exported from Australia. By contrast, its imports of cultural goods were much higher, totalling $3,131 million, or 2.6% of all goods imported into Australia.

Most of Australia's trade in cultural goods was limited to a small number of countries. The two largest export markets were New Zealand (mainly books and magazines) and the United States of America (mainly artistic works, audio and video media, and books and magazines). The major countries supplying Australia with cultural goods were the United States of America and the United Kingdom (both mainly books and magazines), and Malaysia, China and Japan (mainly radios, TVs and hi-fi equipment).

Since 1994-95, the value of exports of cultural goods has generally increased each year, with the figure in 2000-01 being 55% higher than in 1994-95. By comparison, the value of exports of all goods from Australia was 78% higher. Since 1994-95, the value of imports of cultural goods has increased in almost all years. In 2000–01, the value of cultural goods imported was 36% higher than in 1994-95, while the value of imports of all goods into Australia was 58% higher.

In 2000-01, Australia earned $1,298 million through the provision of cultural and recreation services to the rest of the world. However, this figure was inflated by the inclusion of the sale of television rights to the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games ($1,025 million). Payments to the rest of the world for the provision of cultural and recreational services (mainly royalties for television programs, films, videotapes and music) amounted to $944 million in 2000-01. Most trade in cultural and recreation services was with the United States of America.

Further information on cultural trade, such as the types of goods traded and the countries involved, as well as time series data, is contained in the Cultural Ministers Council Statistics Working Group publication Australia's Trade in Culture, 2000-01, which was prepared by the NCCRS. An electronic copy of the publication can be found on the CMC SWG web site at www.dcita.gov.au/swg.