NAME OF COLLECTION
International Merchandise Trade Statistics
Contact
Assistant Director
International Trade Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Locked Bag 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
For queries on international trade statistics:
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 5411
Facsimile: Canberra 02 6252 7438
For data requests and client services:
Telephone: 1300 135 070
Facsimile: 1300 135 211
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
Web site: <www.abs.gov.au>
Purpose
International merchandise trade statistics measure Australian exports and imports of goods. These statistics are inputs to major economic statistics such as balance of payments and national accounts statistics. They are also used to: analyse changes in the commodity composition of exports and imports; examine regional trading patterns and directions; formulate and review trade policy; undertake trade negotiations (e.g. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade); and evaluate the domestic market implications of export and import activity, including opportunities for expanded production for export markets or import replacement.
Description
Data are compiled from information submitted by exporters and importers or their agents to the Australian Customs Service.
Merchandise trade covers all moveable goods which add to (imports) or subtract from (exports) Australia's stock of material resources, as a result of their movement into or out of Australia.
Main data detail
Data are available for exports, imports (goods which cross the Customs' frontier into Australia in a particular period) and imports cleared for home consumption (goods which enter the Australian domestic market in a particular period).
Unless affected by confidentiality restrictions, the following data items are available:
- detailed commodity classification of the goods;
- value of goods;
- quantity of goods;
- gross weight of goods:
- for exports by commodity; and
- for total imports (from 1 July 1992 onwards);
- overseas country:
- country of origin for imports and import clearances; and
- country of final destination for exports;
- overseas port (from 1 July 1992 onwards):
- port of loading for imports; and
- port of discharge for exports;
- Australian state and port:
- state/port of discharge and state of final destination for imports;
- state of final destination for import clearances; and
- state of origin and state/port of loading for exports;
- mode of transport;
- nature of entry details (imports and import clearances); and
- import duty rates, amount of duty paid on goods cleared for Australian consumption and other duty information (import clearances).
International merchandise trade statistics can be provided on a commodity basis classified according to the third revision of the United Nations' Standard International Trade Classification or the World Customs Organisation's Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System; by Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification industry of origin; and by broad economic categories.
Geographic coverage
Covers imports into Australia, and exports out of Australia. Data by overseas country and port and by Australian state and port are available.
Frequency of data availability
Monthly. Any aggregation of months can also be provided.
Reference period
Calendar month: for exports, goods are included in the month in which they left Australia; for imports, goods are included in the month in which the entries are processed by Customs.
Historical data
Detailed statistics for reference periods from January 1988 are readily available. Statistics for earlier periods are also available, though not at the same level of detail.
Products and services
Publications
For exports and imports statistics:
For imports statistics only:
For export statistics only:
For details about collection methodology:
Other
- The international merchandise trade statistics consultancy service provides a wide range of information specifically tailored to clients' needs. Information is available on an ad-hoc or subscription basis and can be provided on a range of media.
- Time series data in publication format are available from January 1988 onwards. Publications covering earlier periods are available for reference in Australian Bureau of Statistics libraries.
Example of information available
AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS, BY ANZSIC INDUSTRY OF ORIGIN(a)
 | | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-2001 |
| ANZSIC Division/Subdivision | $m | $m | $m |
|
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 10,019 | 10,547 | 12,811 |
| Mining | | | |
| Coal mining | 9,271 | 8,326 | 10,833 |
| Oil and gas extraction | 3,327 | 7,479 | 11,144 |
| Metal ore mining | 7,375 | 7,536 | 9,667 |
| Other mining | 198 | 237 | 268 |
| Total mining | 20,171 | 23,578 | 31,912 |
| Manufacturing | 52,073 | 57,982 | 69,128 |
| Other industries(a) | 3,729 | 5,179 | 5,689 |
| Total exports | 85,991 | 97,286 | 119,539 |
(a) Includes commodities subject to a 'No Commodity Details' confidentiality restriction.
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