Characteristics of Australian Importers

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This publication provides an analysis of the number and characteristics of Australia's merchandise importers.

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Reference period
2020-21 financial year
Released
21/02/2023
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Key statistics

In 2020-21:

  • The number of importers increased by 23%, to 320,502
  • The merchandise imports value increased by 3%, to $309 billion.
  • The number of business importers increased by 6%, to 124,507.
  • 56% of business importers traded at least once with China.

An importer is defined as an individual or business that has declared one or more merchandise import transactions, with a value of $1,000 or more. For the purposes of this publication, importers have been split into two groups, those that report an ABN to Australian Border Force (categorised as ‘business’ importers) and those that use a Customs Client Identifier (CCID) (categorised as ‘other’ importers).

There are exceptions to the above definitions. See the Methodology section of this publication for more information.

Importer population

In 2020-21, the total value of Australian merchandise imports reached a record high of $309 billion (up $10 billion or 3% on 2019-20). This followed a 3% decrease in 2019-20, as a result of petroleum and road vehicle imports declining at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The total number of importers (business and other) increased by 23% to 320,502. This was predominantly driven by other importers (which includes individual/household importers) up 37% to 195,995. The increase coincides with the growth in e-commerce during the pandemic, as households shifted to online purchase of goods.

Other importers accounted for 61% of all importers, but only 1% of import value. By contrast, business importers accounted for 39% of all importers and 99% of imports value.

The total number of import transactions increased 9% to 12.2m, while the median value per transaction decreased slightly from $4,558 to $4,521.

Number of importers, number of transactions and value 2020-21
Importer (a)Number of importersNumber of transactionsValue of imports
No.%No.%$m%
Business importer124,5073911,786,27697306,32099
Other importer195,99561398,86832,4691
Total320,50210012,185,144100308,789100

(a) Refer to importer definitions in the methodology of the publication.

Business importer population

The number of business importers increased by 6%, to 124,507 in 2020-21, rebounding after a 3% decrease in 2019-20 at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of this increase was attributed to small businesses, which increased by 7% to 83,873, while medium businesses increased by 3% to 31,657 and large businesses remained steady at 8,977.

Most business importers were small (67%), however they only accounted for 2% of import value. Conversely, only 7% of businesses were large, while representing 86% of the import value. Please refer to Importer size in the Methodology for more information on size criteria.

In 2020-21 the typical business importer, based on the median of all business importers, recorded:

  • imports valued at $26,230,
  • four import transactions, and
  • trade with a single import market (country of origin).

(a) Refer to Importer size criteria in the methodology of the publication.

Number of business importers and value, by size 2020-21
Business Size (a)Number of business importersValue of business imports
No.%$m%
Large8,9777264,66086
Medium31,6572534,22511
Small83,873677,4352
Total businesses124,507100306,320100

(a) Refer to Importer size criteria in the methodology of the publication.

Industry of importer

Based on the number of business importers, wholesale trade was the largest industry in 2020-21, accounting for 22% of business importers and 52% of transactions. Retail trade was the second largest accounting for 18% of business importers and 24% of transactions.

In 2020-21, wholesale trade was up $11b (7%) and was the key driver for the increase in total import value. This increase was influenced by strong demand for road vehicles, despite global shortages of semi-conductors impacting supply.

In 2020-21, the median import value (per business importer) was $26,230. However, the median value per business differed considerably across industries, with the largest being wholesale trade ($162,252) and mining ($55,685).

(a)  Includes goods importers in Agriculture, forestry and fishing; Electricity, gas, water and waste services; Accommodation and food services; Information media and telecommunications; Financial and insurance services; Rental, hiring and real estate services; Administrative and support services; Public administration and safety; Education and training; Health, care and social assistance; and Arts and recreation services.

Import origin (country of origin)

In 2020-21, China continued to be Australia's largest import market, accounting for 28% of the business import value and 36% of transactions. Furthermore, 56% (69,567) of all business importers traded at least once with China.

The United States of America was the second largest import market, accounting for 11% of both business import value and transactions.

Import destination (state or territory)

New South Wales continued to be the most dominant state of final destination for imported merchandise, accounting for 41% of the business import value. In 2020-21, 62% (76,839) of all business importers recorded at least one import into New South Wales.

Between 2017-18 and 2020-21, New South Wales was also the only state to show an increase in the number of business importers and value each year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Number of business importers and value, by state 2020-21
State of final destination of imported commodityNumber of business importersValue of business imports
No.$m
New South Wales76,839125,411
Victoria46,19184,545
Queensland24,54248,005
South Australia7,1749,571
Western Australia 17,40434,278
Tasmania963926
Northern Territory8131,135
Total businesses (a)124,507306,320

(a) Totals include ACT. Imports data with confidentiality restrictions 'No Commodity details' or 'No value details' are excluded from individual state import values and included in the value total.

Selected commodities (HS 6-digit)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

This section presents statistics on selected goods of interest across 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Import values of PPE increased by $1,262m (218%) in 2019-20 and a further $784m (43%) in 2020-21. The number of PPE importers increased by 3,497 (68%) in 2019-20 but decreased by 1,006 (12%) in 2020-21.

(a) An importer is defined as an individual or business that has declared one or more merchandise import transactions. This includes both those that report an ABN to Australian Border Force (business importers) and those that use a CCID (other importers).

(b) In the Current Tariff Classification, there is no single classification for PPE, which instead are reported under a broad range of commodities. The PPE figures in this analysis does not include all PPE goods, as they are reported under numerous classifications. Furthermore, the commodities identified as including PPE are not only limited to COVID-19 related products.

(c) PPE includes HS6 630790 Made up textiles (includes face masks); HS6 401519 Gloves (includes disposable nitrile gloves) and HS6 621010 Garments of felt and non-wovens (includes isolation gowns and protective overalls).

Disinfectants

Imports value of disinfectants (HS6 380894), which includes hand sanitizers, increased $213m (282%) in 2019-20 but decreased $115m (40%) in 2020-21. The number of disinfectants importers increased by 1,159 (489%) in 2019-20 before decreasing by 770 (55%) in 2020-21.

(a) An importer is defined as an individual or business that has declared one or more merchandise import transactions. This includes both those that report an ABN to Australian Border Force (business importers) and those that use a CCID (other importers).

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Methodology

Characteristics of Australian Importers methodology, 2020-21 financial year