International Trade: Supplementary Information, Calendar Year

Total exports increased 29% in the 2022 calendar year, driven by commodity prices remaining elevated.

The top 5 exporting partners for Australia are:

1. China, down $4,332m (-2%) to $184,721m
2. Japan, up $54,648m (84%) to $119,733m
3. Korea, Republic of (South), up $16,022m (42%) to $53,875m
4. India, up $10,270m (42%) to $34,847m
5. United States of America, up $6,644m (28%) to $30,690m

These five countries make up 63% of Australia’s total international trade in exports.

Total imports increased 33% in the 2022 calendar year, driven by increases in both goods and services.

The top 5 importing partners for Australia are:

1. China, up $20,951m (22%) to $114,244m
2. United States of America, up $12,612m (29%) to $56,662m
3. Singapore, up $11,388m (65%) to $28,891m
4. Korea, Republic of (South), up $14,695m (111%) to $27,920m
5. Japan, up $15,578m (131%) to $27,431m

These five countries make up 50% of Australia’s total international trade in imports.

• The balance on trade in services was a deficit of -$21,571m

• Services credits (exports) increased $14,912m (25%) to $74,392m

• Service debits (imports) increased $40,741m (74%) to $95,963m

Please note: When referencing pre COVID-19 levels, the 2019 year has been used as the reference point for comparison.

Services exports increased 25% in 2022, with Travel services driving the increase from 2021.

Outside of Travel services, the largest increases were seen in:

• Transport,
• Other business services, and
• Telecommunications, computer and information services.

New South Wales accounted for 49% of all services exports, steady from 2021 and up from 43% when compared to pre COVID-19 levels. Victoria remained the second largest state, accounting for 26%, also steady from 2021 but down from 28% pre COVID-19.

In 2022, the largest increases in total services exports by State were New South Wales, up 25% ($7,298m), Victoria, up 23% ($3,559m) and Queensland, up 40% ($2,437m). Compared to pre COVID-19 levels, NSW was at 85%, Victoria was at 68% and Queensland 58%.

In 2022 the United States of America was Australia’s largest services export partner, accounting for 13% of total services exports, and overtaking China for the first time since 2010. Services exports to the United States of America increased 33% from 2021, with the total value of services exports now at 97% of that recorded pre COVID-19. 

Total exports to China were up 4% in 2022, but were still 50% below pre COVID-19 levels. China’s Zero-COVID measures continued throughout 2022, which restricted inbound travellers from China while other countries, including the United States of America, had open borders resulting in higher increases in Other personal travel. The United States of America also had stronger rises in Other business services compared to China. 

Services imports increased 74% in 2022, with Travel and Transport services driving the increase from 2021.

In 2022, Transport services was the largest services category increasing 82% from 2021. Transport Services accounted for 35% of total services imports, up from 33% in 2021 and 18% in 2019. Transport services are 79% above pre COVID-19 levels.

Travel services are 46% of pre COVID-19 levels with the easing of COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

In 2022, all states and territories recorded rises in total services imports driven by notable rises in Transport and Travel services.

New South Wales accounted for 47% of all services imports in 2022, down from 52% in 2021. Victoria remained the second largest accounting for 25% of all services, up from 22% in 2021.

The largest increases across States were New South Wales, up 57%, Victoria, up 93% and Queensland, up 114%. These states are all nearing pre COVID-19 levels, with New South Wales exceeding its pre COVID-19 value, Victoria at 94% of its pre COVID-19 value and Queensland at 81% of its pre COVID-19 value.

United States of America remained Australia’s largest services import partner in 2022, accounting for 14% of the total services imports. Imports to the United States of America increased 43% in 2022, driven by Travel and Other business services. The value of services imports to the United States of America in 2022 is 74% of that recorded pre COVID-19.

Travel services made up 47% of the total services exports value in 2022, up from 38% in 2021, but well below its pre COVID-19 proportion of 65%. 

Exports of Travel services increased 54% in 2022, with Education-related travel remaining the largest component of Travel exports.

The increase in Travel services in 2022 was driven by Other personal travel, with all states and territories recording an increase. Business and Education-related travel also increased, with rises across most states and territories with only Tasmania and the Northern Territory recording small decreases in Education-related travel.

The largest increases in Travel services were recorded by New South Wales, up 57% ($4,560m) and Victoria, up 49% ($3,443m). Similar to the national total, both these states remained well below pre COVID-19 levels, at only 54% and 53% of 2019 values respectively.

Almost all countries recorded an increase in Travel services in 2022. China remained Australia’s largest exporter of Travel services, driven by Education-related travel. China accounted for 18% of Travel exports in 2022, down from 20% in 2021 and 26% pre COVID-19.

Education-related travel services remained Australia’s largest services export in 2022, increasing $4,567m from 2021. As with overall Travel services, this value is still lower than pre COVID-19 levels, at only 66% of the value recorded in 2019. With international borders re-opening in late 2021, international students slowly began returning to study in Australia, but student numbers are still below those seen in 2019.

Education-related travel increased in all states and territories in 2022. The largest increases in Education-related travel exports were in New South Wales, up 24% ($1,900m), and Victoria, up 21% ($1,460m). These were 67% and 62% of pre COVID-19 values respectively.

China remained the largest exporter of Education-related travel services in 2022, increasing 34% from 2021. Exports to China in 2022 were 48% of pre COVID-19 levels. China recorded the largest increase from 2021, followed by Nepal, up 21%.

Other personal travel recorded the largest increase in 2022 for any service category, up $6,601m, and at 31% of pre COVID-19 levels.

With the easing of pandemic related border restrictions in December 2021, all states and territories recorded increases in 2022. The largest increases were in New South Wales, up $2,259m (1,345%) and Victoria, up $1,718m (1,534%).

New Zealand was Australia’s largest export partner of Other personal travel services in 2022, and accounted for 20% of the total, down from 41% in 2021. This reduction in proportion is a result of easing border restrictions leading to increased tourists from other countries. New Zealand exports of Other personal travel in 2022 returned to 62% of pre COVID-19 levels.

Exports of Transport services increased 47% in 2022, driven by Passenger services which was 47% of the pre COVID-19 level. Overall, Transport services were 71% of those recorded pre COVID-19.

The largest increases in Transport services were in New South Wales, up $771m (64%) to 70% of pre COVID-19 and Victoria, up $501m (44%) to 72% of pre COVID-19. Most states and territories recorded an increase in Transport services exports in 2022, with Passenger services the main driver. 

In 2022 Singapore was Australia’s largest export partner for Transport services, increasing 75% from 2021 and accounting for 14% of the total value. Pre COVID-19, the United States of America was the largest export partner of Transport services, accounting for 13% of total Transport services exports, but has dropped to 6% in 2022.

With COVID-19 related border restrictions easing in December 2021, total Travel services imports increased $21,899m (1,395%) in 2022. The increase was driven by Other personal travel, up $20,006m (1,525%). Other personal travel accounted for 91% of total Travel imports in 2022, rebounding to 47% of its pre COVID-19 value.

Travel services made up 24% of the total services imports value in 2022, up from 3% in 2021, but still below the pre COVID-19 level of 49%.

All states and territories recorded an increase in Travel services imports in 2022. The largest increases were in New South Wales, up $7,711m (1,065%) and Victoria, up $6,345m ($1,567%). These two states are the largest importers of Travel services, and account for 36% and 29% of the total respectively.

New Zealand remained Australia’s largest import partner of Travel services in 2022, increasing 606% from 2021. New Zealand accounted for 14% of total travel imports in 2022, down from 30% in 2021. The second largest import partner for Travel in 2022 was Indonesia, rebounding to 68% of pre COVID-19 level. The changes in proportion of imports for partner countries is due to changing border restrictions through the COVID 19 pandemic, along with changes in traveller behaviours post pandemic with travellers often choosing to travel to closer destinations.

Transport services increased 82% in 2022, driven by Freight which increased $9,890m (58%) in 2022, accounting for 80% of total Transport imports. Various factors contributed to this increase, including continued lockdowns, labour shortages, increased demand for commodities, high shipping container prices, and port congestion. Passenger services increased $4,920m (444%) in 2022 returning to 78% of pre COVID-19 levels. 

The largest increases in Transport services imports were in New South Wales, up $5,410m (79%) and Victoria, up $4,697m (82%). New South Wales accounts for 36% of total Transport services imports, and Victoria 31%.

 Singapore was Australia’s largest import partner for Transport services in 2022, increasing $3,713m (187%) from 2021. Singapore accounts for 17% of total Transport services imports in 2022, an increase from 11% in 2021 and up from 12% of pre COVID-19 levels. 

Transport freight increased to a record high value in 2022. Transport freight increased for all states and territories, except the Australian Capital Territory. New South Wales and Victoria are the largest importers of Freight, accounting for 35% and 32% of the total respectively. The largest increases from 2021 were New South Wales, up $3,194m (52%), Victoria, up $3,155m (59%) and Queensland, up $1,842m (66%).

This publication includes historical revisions which are also included in the Australian System of National Accounts, 2021-22, released in October 2022, and the September 2022 issue of Balance of Payments and International Investment Position released in November 2022.

The ABS would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) who have provided funding and support for this publication.

This release previously used catalogue number 5368.0.55.004.