Contents >>
Products >>
International trade in sport and physical recreation goods
INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS
International trade statistics are compiled from information supplied to Customs by exporters and importers or their agents. There are 3 million export transactions and 13 million import transactions recorded each year, many of which are small value records. Due to the large volume of transactions involved and the limited resources available to undertake checks, ABS editing resources are mostly focussed on editing large value records. The majority of data about international trade in sport and physical recreation goods relate to small value records, which are 'as reported to Customs'. More information about the quality of international trade data are included in the ABS (2008e) publication Information Paper: International Trade - Ensuring Data Quality, 2008 (cat. no. 5498.0.55.001).
There are some sport and physical recreation goods for which trade data are not separately available, primarily because they are parts of larger product categories predominantly out of scope of the ACLC Product Classification. Sports apparel is one example where the various items of sports apparel are not separately identified in trade statistics, but are instead included in parts of more general categories of clothing. Another example is automatic bowling alley equipment, which for the purposes of international trade, is part of the category other articles for funfair, table or parlour games. This category is predominantly in scope of the other leisure goods part of the ACLC Product Classification and hence is excluded from data concerning international trade in sport and physical recreation goods.
Australia's trade in selected sport and physical recreation goods is in deficit. Imports of these goods during 2011-12 were valued at $2 billion. This is over seven times the $285.5m in sport and physical recreation goods which were exported during that year.
Exports of sport and physical recreation goods
Sport and physical recreation goods exported from Australia during 2011-12 were valued at $285.5m, decreasing 8% from the $310.1m recorded for 2010-11.
Since 2005-06, boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports and horses have been the two main categories of goods contributing to the total value of sport and physical recreation goods exported. In 2011-12 these two categories made up 59% of the total value of exported sport and physical recreation goods.
For boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports, the value (in current prices) has decreased from a high of $267.7m in 2007-08 to $80.2m in 2011-12. The value of exports of horses decreased from $152.5m in 2008-09 to $87.6m in 2011-12, down from 71% in 2005-06.
Other goods categories which have made substantial contributions to total exports since 2005-06 are spark-ignition marine outboard motors with a value of $15.6m in 2011-12 and general physical exercise, gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment, contributing $11.2m to the total value of exports of sport and physical recreation goods in 2011-12.
Interestingly, the value of exported swimwear for women and girls has increased since 2005-06 from $10.6m to $17.5m in 2011-12. The value of exported water skis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment has decreased from $21.7m in 2005-06 to $10.8m in 2011-12.
12.1 Exports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), Current prices - 2005-06 to 2011-12 |
|
 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m |
|
| Horses | 114.4 | 141.8 | 88.7 | 152.5 | 130.2 | 92.4 | 87.6 |
| Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports | 230.3 | 232.6 | 267.7 | 181.0 | 199.0 | 100.2 | 80.2 |
| Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation; swimming pools and paddling pools | 22.2 | 25.2 | 25.3 | 21.5 | 22.0 | 17.6 | 18.2 |
| Swimwear for women and girls | 10.6 | 11.7 | 12.2 | 13.1 | 12.1 | 14.8 | 17.5 |
| Spark-ignition marine outboard motors | 17.2 | 11.7 | 17.5 | 16.3 | 17.1 | 15.4 | 15.6 |
| General physical exercise, gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment | 9.6 | 12.1 | 8.2 | 7.2 | 8.2 | 10.0 | 11.2 |
| Waterskis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment | 21.7 | 21.8 | 15.6 | 14.3 | 14.0 | 12.2 | 10.8 |
| Golf clubs and other golf equipment | 12.1 | 11.4 | 11.1 | 9.1 | 9.7 | 8.2 | 8.6 |
| Total(b) | 483.2 | 510.9 | 489.1 | 463.4 | 461.7 | 310.1 | 285.5 |
|
| (a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations. |
| (b) Total includes exports of all sport and physical recreation goods. |
| Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia. |
Destination of exports
Throughout the period 2005-06 to 2011-12 New Zealand and the United States of America (USA) have been among the main destinations for sport and physical recreation goods exported from Australia. For 2011-12, the value of exports to New Zealand was $64.3m, and the value of goods exported to the USA was $33.0m.
In 2011-12 the value of goods exported to Hong Kong (SAR of China) was $31.0m, which was a 20% increase on 2010-11.
12.2 Exports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), By destination - 2005-06 to 2011-12 |
|
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m |
|
| New Zealand | 126.9 | 138.6 | 100.6 | 108.9 | 111.9 | 71.0 | 64.3 |
| United States of America | 105.4 | 95.8 | 117.7 | 63.1 | 34.0 | 40.2 | 33.0 |
| Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 35.3 | 39.0 | 33.7 | 49.1 | 37.9 | 25.8 | 31.0 |
| Singapore | 12.8 | 24.6 | 16.4 | 20.1 | 17.4 | 14.9 | 15.6 |
| Papua New Guinea | 6.4 | 4.5 | 11.8 | 12.1 | 11.8 | 12.9 | 14.9 |
| United Kingdom | 14.0 | 24.4 | 18.2 | 17.9 | 11.3 | 15.2 | 12.5 |
| South Africa | 14.0 | 20.2 | 11.2 | 16.5 | 12.8 | 6.3 | 11.4 |
| Netherlands | 6.5 | 3.7 | 7.2 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 9.3 |
| United Arab Emirates | 9.0 | 12.2 | 9.4 | 15.4 | 79.7 | 6.4 | 8.9 |
| Japan | 16.8 | 19.7 | 10.2 | 12.3 | 9.3 | 10.8 | 7.8 |
| Other Countries | 119.8 | 112.3 | 130.4 | 142.5 | 131.4 | 101.6 | 76.9 |
| Total | 483.2 | 510.9 | 489.1 | 463.4 | 461.7 | 310.1 | 285.5 |
|
| (a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations. |
| Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia. |
The value of exports to the Netherlands has increased from $5.1m in 2010-11 to $9.3m in 2011-12 bringing it into the top ten export destinations. In recent years, the value of exports to the United Arab Emirates has fluctuated from a peak of $79.7m in 2009-10 to $6.4m in 2010-11 and $8.9m in 2011-12. The value of exports to South Africa halved from $12.8m in 2009-10 to $6.3m in 2010-11 but increased to $11.4m in 2011-12. Decreases can be seen in the value of goods exported to the United Kingdom (from $15.2m in 2010-11 to $12.5m in 2011-12) and Japan (from $10.8m to $7.8m).
These fluctuations in the value of exports of sport and physical recreation goods may be a result of relatively large value items such as boats and horses included in the data. Relatively small fluctuations in the volume of exports of these goods can have a relatively large impact on the value of exports to an individual country.
Imports of sport and physical recreation goods
The value (in current prices) of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia during 2011-12 was $2,006.7m. This was slightly lower than the $2,027.4m recorded in 2010-11.
12.3 Imports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), Current prices - 2005-06 to 2011-12 |
|
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m |
|
| Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports | 474.6 | 521.3 | 591.9 | 447.9 | 392.3 | 502.0 | 447.4 |
| General physical exercise, gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment | 203.5 | 241.1 | 227.4 | 247.4 | 221.6 | 216.6 | 237.1 |
| Bicycles and other cycles, not motorised | 163.6 | 174.9 | 174.5 | 239.9 | 199.5 | 219.7 | 210.1 |
| Sports or physical recreation footwear | 156.6 | 175.8 | 142.4 | 161.4 | 152.2 | 142.4 | 169.9 |
| Articles and equipment for sports or outdoor games, swimming pools and paddling pools nes | 85.2 | 109.8 | 100.7 | 127.9 | 125.0 | 130.4 | 134.8 |
| Spark-ignition marine outboard motors | 208.2 | 186.3 | 169.8 | 137.6 | 143.6 | 131.2 | 132.5 |
| Horses | 108.2 | 130.3 | 129.0 | 101.9 | 98.1 | 123.3 | 101.6 |
| Fishing rods, lines, fish-hooks and other line fishing tackle(b) | 68.8 | 78.4 | 73.9 | 88.5 | 72.3 | 78.2 | 80.4 |
| Total(c) | 1 930.4 | 2 102.2 | 2 088.3 | 2 055.5 | 1 889.2 | 2 027.4 | 2 006.7 |
|
| (a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using Customs Values. |
| (b) Includes fish landing nets, butterfly nets and similar nets; decoy birds and similar hunting or shooting requisites. |
| (c) Total includes imports of all sport and physical recreation goods. |
| Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia. |
Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports ($447.4m), general physical exercise, gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment ($237.1m) and bicycles and other cycles, not motorised ($210.1m) were the product categories which contributed most to the value of imports of sport and physical recreation goods in 2011-12. These categories also had high values in previous years. Other categories in the top five for 2011-12 were sports or physical recreation footwear ($169.9m) and other articles and equipment for sports or outdoor games, swimming pools and paddling pools not elsewhere specified ($134.8m). Together, these five sport and physical recreation product categories accounted for just under two thirds (60% or $1,199.3m) of total imports of sport and physical recreation goods in 2011-12.
Origin of imports
Throughout the period 2005-06 to 2011-12, China and the USA have been the major sources of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia. In 2011-12, the combined value of imports from these two countries amounted to $1,109.0m, which was over half (55%) the total value of all imported sport and physical recreation goods in this period. China was the largest contributor to this figure with total imports worth $754.3m. The USA contributed $354.7m which was more than double the $172.9m worth of goods imported from Taiwan, which was the next placed contributor to the overall value of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia in 2011-12.
Along with China, the USA and Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have been the top six sources of imported sport and physical recreation goods in Australia since 2005-06.
12.4 Imports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), Current prices - By country of origin - 2005-06 to 2011-12 |
|
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 |
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m |
|
| China | 584.4 | 706.2 | 685.6 | 791.9 | 720.7 | 740.3 | 754.3 |
| United States of America | 473.6 | 422.9 | 415.3 | 366.8 | 332.9 | 368.1 | 354.7 |
| Taiwan | 156.7 | 169.3 | 155.4 | 211.7 | 158.3 | 171.3 | 172.9 |
| Japan | 161.5 | 133.0 | 145.2 | 103.8 | 110.4 | 110.9 | 110.0 |
| New Zealand | 98.6 | 115.1 | 119.9 | 97.0 | 100.1 | 124.2 | 100.2 |
| United Kingdom | 102.6 | 126.4 | 130.4 | 92.1 | 76.8 | 93.2 | 56.3 |
| Viet Nam | 24.8 | 31.9 | 26.6 | 30.5 | 32.7 | 31.1 | 49.7 |
| France | 34.5 | 47.8 | 59.5 | 35.6 | 39.9 | 50.2 | 48.9 |
| Italy | 36.7 | 52.8 | 59.2 | 30.2 | 52.1 | 46.5 | 48.4 |
| India | 28.8 | 34.7 | 29.8 | 29.6 | 30.0 | 32.3 | 32.5 |
| Canada | 29.7 | 50.9 | 40.0 | 34.0 | 33.1 | 31.8 | 28.9 |
| Thailand | 20.9 | 20.5 | 17.9 | 19.8 | 20.9 | 20.5 | 27.9 |
| Total(b) | 1 930.4 | 2 102.2 | 2 088.3 | 2 055.5 | 1 889.2 | 2 027.4 | 2 006.7 |
|
| (a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using Customs Values. |
| (b) Total includes imports of all sport and physical recreation goods. |
| Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia. |
In 2011-12 the value of imported sport and physical recreation goods from China increased by 29% from $584.4m in 2005-06 to $754.3m in 2011-12. Since 2005-06, the value of imports from the USA has decreased by 25% from $473.6m to $354.7m in 2011-12. In 2011-12 the value of imports from the United Kingdom decreased by 40% from $93.2m in 2010-11 to $56.3m, and has decreased by 45% since 2005-06 ($102.6m) following a peak of $130.4m in 2007-08.
Balance of trade in sporting and physical recreation goods
The countries shown in Graph 12.5 were Australia's major trading partners in sport and physical recreation goods for 2011-12. That is, they were the countries with which total transactions (exports and imports) were greatest. Australia had a trade deficit with all but one of these countries in 2011-12 for sport and physical recreation goods. The largest trade deficit was with China ($750.8m), followed by the USA ($321.7m), Taiwan ($171.9m) and Japan ($102.2m). Australia had a trade surplus in sporting and physical recreation goods with Hong Kong (SAR of China) ($15.1m).
12.5 Balance of trade in selected sport and physical recreation goods - 2011-12
Quality Declaration 
Print Page
Print All