5489.0 - International Merchandise Trade, Australia: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2015

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/11/2015

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Preface + Introduction + Scope, Coverage and Treatments + Trade System, Valuation and Time of Recording + Data Sources and Compilation Methods + Classifications + Country, Overseas Port, State and Australian Port Mode of Transport + Quantity Measurement + Data Confidentiality + Data Dissemination + Data Quality + Relationship with Other ABS Macroeconomic Statistics About this Release	PREFACE This publication describes the conceptual framework for Australia's international merchandise trade statistics and the data sources and methods used to compile them. The purpose of this publication is to help users of these statistics understand and interpret the statistics. This is the second issue of this publication, updating the issue released in 2001. This issue describes the conceptual framework for Australia's international merchandise trade statistics and reflects changes to the patterns of international merchandise trade since 2001. Changes to the sources and methods are a result of both the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) re-engineering their system for processing export and import declarations and changes to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) processing environment. While these changes were not visible to users of these statistics, this publication provides a complete explanation of the sources and methods used to compile and release Australia's international merchandise trade statistics. The main ABS publications that present international merchandise trade statistics are: International Merchandise Imports, Australia (cat. no. 5439.0) - issued monthly. This publication will be discontinued following the December 2015 issue to be released on 19 January 2016. The data will continue to be available two weeks later in International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0). International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (cat. no. 5368.0) - issued monthly Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (cat. no. 5302.0) - issued quarterly International Trade: Supplementary Information, Financial Year (cat. no. 5368.0.55.003) and International Trade: Supplementary Information, Calendar Year (cat. no. 5368.0.55.004) - issued annually. A number of time series spreadsheets, from January 1988 onwards, accompany these publications which are available on the ABS website. More detailed data are available from the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or via the online Information Consultancy Form. From time to time, particular concepts, sources or methods used in compiling Australia's international merchandise trade statistics are changed or modified in the light of reviews or other developments. Users will be advised of these changes in the above statistical publications and in periodic updates to this publication. The ABS invites comments on the usefulness of this publication as a guide to Australia's international merchandise trade statistics. Such feedback will help in planning the content of future issues of this publication and the descriptive material included in the regular statistical publications. Comments should be directed to: International Trade in Goods and Services Section Australian Bureau of Statistics GPO Box 66 Hobart TAS 7001 Email: international.trade@abs.gov.au The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us. Document Selection These documents will be presented in a new window.