QUANTITY AND GROSS WEIGHT
8.11 Quantity is the measure of how many or how much of a commodity is imported or exported. A measure of quantity can include tonnes, kilograms, number, litres and other units of measurement. Where quantity is recorded by weight, e.g. kilograms, it does not include the weight of packaging. This is an important distinction from gross weight. Gross weight is the shipping weight of goods (measured in kilograms for ABS output) in the packaged state, excluding the weight of shipping containers. It includes the weight of moisture content, wrapping, crates, boxes and outside packages. For more information see Units of Quantity in Australia's International Merchandise Trade Statistics.
8.12 In Australia's international merchandise trade statistics, net weight is not included on all transactions, except those where the unit of quantity is grams, kilograms or tonnes. Net weight excludes any outside packaging, inner containers or wrappings or any carrying medium (e.g. liquid) surrounding the goods.
8.13 Australia's international merchandise trade gross weight statistics are not used to estimate net weight. Gross weight is recorded for each commodity on an export declaration and is reported in kilograms. For imports, gross weight is recorded at the total gross level and is also reported in kilograms. Gross weight at the individual commodity level for imports is not reported. There is no reliable method to apportion gross weight to diverse commodities recorded within an import declaration. The ABS assigns gross weight to one line/commodity on the import declaration to enable commodity estimates to be produced. Therefore, gross weight statistics for imports are only reliable when aggregated at the port or state level and not at the commodity level.
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