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In 2001-02, the predominant mode of transport for Australia's exports (table 30.31) was sea transport, with $99,261m or 82% of total exports by value. Air transport accounted for $21,799m or 18%, and parcel post $116m or 0.1%. Australia exported 508 million tonnes of merchandise, the vast majority of which by weight was transported by sea (506.2 million tonnes).

The largest contributors to export values by sea transport were Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, $24,475m (25% of total exports by sea); Crude materials, inedible, except fuels, $22,324m (22%); and Food and live animals, $20,056m (20%).

The largest contributors to export values by air transport were Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC, $7,673m (35% of exports by air); and Machinery and transport equipment, $5,387m (25%).

In 2001-02, the predominant mode of transport for Australia's imports (table 30.32) was also sea transport, with $84,670m or 71% of total imports by value. Air transport accounted for $34,932m or 29%, and parcel post $78m or 0.1%. Australia imported 58 million tonnes of merchandise, considerably less than the tonnage of exports. Sea transport accounted for almost all merchandise imports by weight.

The largest contributors to import values by sea transport were Machinery and transport equipment, $35,442m (42% of imports by sea); and Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material, $13,004m (15%).

Over half the value of imports transported by air transport was Machinery and transport equipment, $18,212m (52% of imports by air).

30.31 MERCHANDISE EXPORTS, By mode of transport - 2001-02
	Air		Sea		Parcel post		Total
Commodity (SITC)	$m	%(a)	$m	%(a)	$m	%(a)	$m
Food and live animals(b)	1,651	7.6	20,056	92.4	-	-	21,707
Beverages and tobacco	22	0.9	2,333	99.0	-	-	2,355
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels(b)	117	0.5	22,324	99.5	1	-	22,443
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials	645	2.6	24,475	97.4	-	-	25,120
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes(b)	4	1.2	306	98.8	-	-	310
Chemical and related products, n.e.s.(b)	2,362	44.1	3,000	55.9	-	-	5,362
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material(b)	1,179	8.7	12,308	90.8	70	0.5	13,557
Machinery and transport equipment(b)	5,387	38.1	8,751	61.9	2	-	14,140
Miscellaneous manufactured articles(b)	2,759	61.8	1,667	37.3	40	0.9	4,466
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC(c)	7,673	65.5	4,040	34.5	2	-	11,715
Total	21,799	18.0	99,261	81.9	116	0.1	121,176
(a) Proportion of total commodity (SITC section). (b) Excludes export commodities subject to a confidentiality restriction. (c) Includes export commodities subject to a confidentiality restriction.
Source: International Merchandise Trade, Australia, June 2002 (5422.0).

30.32 MERCHANDISE IMPORTS, By mode of transport - 2001-02
	Air		Sea		Parcel post		Total
Commodity (SITC)	$m	%(a)	$m	%(a)	$m	%(a)	$m
Food and live animals(b)	218	4.7	4,395	95.3	-	-	4,614
Beverages and tobacco	13	1.5	851	98.5	-	-	864
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels(b)	91	5.2	1,664	94.8	1	0.1	1,756
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials(b)	2	-	9,031	100.0	-	-	9,033
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes	3	1.1	286	98.9	-	-	289
Chemical and related products, n.e.s.(b)	5,921	40.5	8,714	59.5	2	-	14,637
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material(b)	1,803	12.2	13,004	87.7	14	0.1	14,821
Machinery and transport equipment(b)	18,212	33.9	35,442	66.0	18	-	53,672
Miscellaneous manufactured articles(b)	6,411	36.8	10,968	63.0	42	0.2	17,421
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC(c)	2,258	87.7	316	12.3	-	-	2,574
Total	34,932	29.2	84,670	70.7	78	0.1	119,681
(a) Proportion of total commodity (SITC section). (b) Excludes import commodities subject to a confidentiality restriction. (c) Includes import commodities subject to a confidentiality restriction.
Source: International Merchandise Trade, Australia, June 2002 (5422.0).