ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES
In trend terms, the balance on goods and services was a surplus of $1,461m in April 2018, an increase of $300m on the surplus in March 2018.
In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a surplus of $977m in April 2018, a decrease of $754m on the surplus in March 2018.
GOODS AND SERVICES SUMMARY(a), Seasonally Adjusted and Trend |
|
 | | | | | | | Change in: |
| | | | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 |
| | | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| BALANCE on goods and services | 1 391 | 1 731 | 977 | -754 | -44 |
| CREDITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | 34 374 | 34 951 | 34 188 | -763 | -2 |
| | Total goods | 27 203 | 27 726 | 26 885 | -841 | -3 |
| | | Rural goods(b) | 3 829 | 4 005 | 3 997 | -8 | - |
| | | Non-rural goods(b) | 21 674 | 21 891 | 21 347 | -544 | -2 |
| | | Net exports of goods under merchanting(c) | 7 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 83 |
| | | Non-monetary gold(c) | 1 693 | 1 824 | 1 530 | -294 | -16 |
| | Total services | 7 170 | 7 225 | 7 303 | 78 | 1 |
| DEBITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | -32 982 | -33 220 | -33 211 | -9 | - |
| | Total goods | -25 533 | -25 812 | -25 731 | -81 | - |
| | | Consumption goods | -8 889 | -8 662 | -8 460 | -202 | -2 |
| | | Capital goods | -6 197 | -6 101 | -6 215 | 114 | 2 |
| | | Intermediate and other merchandise goods | -9 967 | -10 337 | -10 448 | 111 | 1 |
| | | Non-monetary gold(c) | -480 | -712 | -608 | -104 | -15 |
| | Total services | -7 449 | -7 408 | -7 479 | 71 | 1 |
Trend(d) |
|
| BALANCE on goods and services | 851 | 1 161 | 1 461 | 300 | 26 |
| CREDITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | 34 042 | 34 477 | 34 845 | 368 | 1 |
| | Total goods | 26 906 | 27 291 | 27 607 | 316 | 1 |
| | | Rural goods(b) | 3 769 | 3 824 | 3 892 | 68 | 2 |
| | | Non-rural goods(b) | 21 368 | 21 707 | 21 980 | 273 | 1 |
| | | Net exports of goods under merchanting | 8 | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| | | Non-monetary gold | 1 761 | 1 754 | 1 727 | -27 | -2 |
| | Total services | 7 137 | 7 186 | 7 238 | 52 | 1 |
| DEBITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | -33 191 | -33 317 | -33 384 | 67 | - |
| | Total goods | -25 701 | -25 843 | -25 925 | 82 | - |
| | | Consumption goods | -8 676 | -8 665 | -8 633 | -32 | - |
| | | Capital goods | -6 142 | -6 187 | -6 234 | 47 | 1 |
| | | Intermediate and other merchandise goods | -10 354 | -10 411 | -10 433 | 22 | - |
| | | Non-monetary gold | -528 | -580 | -625 | 45 | 8 |
| | Total services | -7 490 | -7 474 | -7 459 | -15 | - |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For sign conventions, see paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes. |
| (b) For all time periods, estimates for sugar, sugar preparations and honey are included in Non-rural goods. |
| (c) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (d) Caution should be used when interpreting recent trend estimates as they may be affected by unusual economic factors. For more details on trend estimates, see paragraph 19 of the Explanatory Notes. |
EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
Between March and April 2018, the trend estimate of goods and services credits rose $368m (1%) to $34,845m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services credits fell $763m (2%) to $34,188m. Non-rural goods fell $544m (2%), non-monetary gold fell $294m (16%) and rural goods fell $8m. Net exports of goods under merchanting rose $5m (83%). Services credits rose $78m (1%).
Exports of goods
GOODS CREDITS
GOODS CREDITS, Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | | Change in: |
| | | | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 |
| | | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
|
| Total goods credits | 27 203 | 27 726 | 26 885 | -841 | -3 |
| General merchandise | 25 503 | 25 896 | 25 344 | -552 | -2 |
| | Rural goods | 3 829 | 4 005 | 3 997 | -8 | - |
| | | Meat and meat preparations | 1 052 | 1 056 | 1 102 | 46 | 4 |
| | | Cereal grains and cereal preparations | 511 | 738 | 653 | -85 | -12 |
| | | Wool and sheepskins | 378 | 371 | 358 | -13 | -4 |
| | | Other rural(a) | 1 888 | 1 841 | 1 884 | 43 | 2 |
| | Non-rural goods | 21 674 | 21 891 | 21 347 | -544 | -2 |
| | | Metal ores and minerals(b) | 7 915 | 7 960 | 7 659 | -301 | -4 |
| | | Coal, coke and briquettes(c) | 5 444 | 5 421 | 5 017 | -404 | -7 |
| | | Other mineral fuels(b)(d) | 3 587 | 3 629 | 3 717 | 88 | 2 |
| | | Metals (excl. non-monetary gold) | 978 | 928 | 975 | 47 | 5 |
| | | Machinery | 808 | 880 | 891 | 11 | 1 |
| | | Transport equipment | 300 | 318 | 354 | 36 | 11 |
| | | Other manufactures | 1 631 | 1 728 | 1 742 | 14 | 1 |
| | | Other non-rural (incl. sugar and beverages)(a) | 869 | 864 | 832 | -32 | -4 |
| | | Goods procured in ports by carriers(d) | 141 | 162 | 159 | -3 | -2 |
| Net exports of goods under merchanting(e) | 7 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 83 |
| Non-monetary gold(e) | 1 693 | 1 824 | 1 530 | -294 | -16 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For all time periods, estimates for sugar, sugar preparations and honey are included in Other non-rural. |
| (b) From July 2005, this component is seasonally adjusted using seasonal factors derived from a monthly volume series. |
| (c) From July 1971 to June 2005, only a length-of-month adjustment has been applied to this component. From July 2005, this component is seasonally adjusted using seasonal factors derived from a monthly volume series. |
| (d) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (e) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
RURAL GOODS
In trend terms, exports of rural goods rose $68m (2%) to $3,892m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of rural goods fell $8m to $3,997m.
The main component contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates was cereal grains and cereal preparations, down $85m (12%).
Partly offsetting this fall were:
- meat and meat preparations, up $46m (4%)
- other rural, up $43m (2%).
NON-RURAL GOODS
In trend terms, exports of non-rural goods rose $273m (1%) to $21,980m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of non-rural goods fell $544m (2%) to $21,347m.
The main components contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- coal, coke and briquettes, down $404m (7%)
- metal ores and minerals, down $301m (4%).
Partly offsetting these falls were:
- other mineral fuels, up $88m (2%)
- metals (excl. non-monetary gold), up $47m (5%).
For price and volume details, see the
Selected commodities section.
NET EXPORTS OF GOODS UNDER MERCHANTING
In trend terms, net exports of goods under merchanting remained steady at $7m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, net exports of goods under merchanting rose $5m (83%) to $11m.
NON-MONETARY GOLD
In trend terms, exports of non-monetary gold fell $27m (2%) to $1,727m.
In original and seasonally adjusted terms, exports of non-monetary gold fell $294m (16%) to $1,530m.
Exports of services
SERVICES CREDITS
SERVICES CREDITS, Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | Change in: |
| | | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 |
| | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
|
| Total services credits | 7 170 | 7 225 | 7 303 | 78 | 1 |
| Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others(a) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.(a) | - | 1 | - | -1 | -100 |
| Transport | 663 | 669 | 677 | 8 | 1 |
| | Passenger(b) | 257 | 260 | 265 | 5 | 2 |
| | Freight(c) | 25 | 25 | 25 | - | - |
| | Other | 233 | 233 | 232 | -1 | - |
| | Postal and courier services(d) | 150 | 151 | 154 | 3 | 2 |
| Travel | 4 539 | 4 587 | 4 640 | 53 | 1 |
| Other services | 1 968 | 1 968 | 1 987 | 19 | 1 |
| Memorandum item | | | | | |
| Tourism related services credits(e) | 4 796 | 4 848 | 4 905 | 57 | 1 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (b) Passenger services includes agency fees and commissions for air transport. |
| (c) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (d) Postal and courier services includes indirect commissions for sea transport. |
| (e) For a more detailed explanation of tourism related services, see paragraph 29 of the Explanatory Notes. |
In trend terms, services credits rose $52m (1%) to $7,238m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, services credits rose $78m (1%) to $7,303m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- travel, up $53m (1%)
- other services, up $19m (1%).
In seasonally adjusted terms, tourism related services credits rose $57m (1%) to $4,905m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, total services credits contributed 21% of total goods and services exported.
IMPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
Between March and April 2018, the trend estimate of goods and services debits rose $67m to $33,384m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services debits fell $9m to $33,211m. Consumption goods fell $202m (2%) and non-monetary gold fell $104m (15%). Capital goods rose $114m (2%) and intermediate and other merchandise goods rose $111m (1%). Services debits rose $71m (1%).
Imports of goods
GOODS DEBITS
GOODS DEBITS(a), Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | | Change in: |
| | | | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 |
| | | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
|
| Total goods debits | -25 533 | -25 812 | -25 731 | -81 | - |
| General merchandise | -25 053 | -25 100 | -25 123 | 23 | - |
| | Consumption goods | -8 889 | -8 662 | -8 460 | -202 | -2 |
| | | Food and beverages, mainly for consumption | -1 262 | -1 223 | -1 198 | -25 | -2 |
| | | Household electrical items | -543 | -515 | -518 | 3 | 1 |
| | | Non-industrial transport equipment | -2 338 | -2 187 | -2 049 | -138 | -6 |
| | | Textiles, clothing and footwear | -1 465 | -1 520 | -1 495 | -25 | -2 |
| | | Toys, books and leisure goods | -559 | -558 | -575 | 17 | 3 |
| | | Consumption goods n.e.s. | -2 722 | -2 659 | -2 624 | -35 | -1 |
| | Capital goods | -6 197 | -6 101 | -6 215 | 114 | 2 |
| | | Machinery and industrial equipment | -2 203 | -2 107 | -2 056 | -51 | -2 |
| | | ADP equipment | -900 | -880 | -1 008 | 128 | 15 |
| | | Telecommunications equipment | -921 | -1 049 | -985 | -64 | -6 |
| | | Civil aircraft and confidentialised items(b)(c) | -559 | -364 | -480 | 116 | 32 |
| | | Industrial transport equipment n.e.s. | -1 093 | -1 141 | -1 160 | 19 | 2 |
| | | Capital goods n.e.s.(d) | -521 | -559 | -527 | -32 | -6 |
| | Intermediate and other merchandise goods | -9 967 | -10 337 | -10 448 | 111 | 1 |
| | | Food and beverages, mainly for industry | -153 | -151 | -140 | -11 | -7 |
| | | Primary industrial supplies n.e.s.(d) | -192 | -151 | -253 | 102 | 68 |
| | | Fuels and lubricants(c) | -2 559 | -2 975 | -3 101 | 126 | 4 |
| | | Parts for transport equipment | -997 | -1 010 | -1 003 | -7 | -1 |
| | | Parts for ADP equipment | -61 | -67 | -55 | -12 | -18 |
| | | Other parts for capital goods | -1 520 | -1 496 | -1 536 | 40 | 3 |
| | | Organic and inorganic chemicals | -334 | -296 | -280 | -16 | -5 |
| | | Paper and paperboard | -201 | -196 | -200 | 4 | 2 |
| | | Textile yarn and fabrics | -126 | -123 | -119 | -4 | -3 |
| | | Iron and steel | -370 | -351 | -374 | 23 | 7 |
| | | Plastics | -370 | -366 | -356 | -10 | -3 |
| | | Processed industrial supplies n.e.s. | -2 946 | -3 018 | -2 913 | -105 | -3 |
| | | Other merchandise goods(b)(e) | -41 | -38 | -23 | -15 | -39 |
| | | Goods procured in ports by carriers(c) | -99 | -99 | -96 | -3 | -3 |
| Non-monetary gold(c) | -480 | -712 | -608 | -104 | -15 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For sign conventions, see paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes. |
| (b) From July 2008, commodities subject to a 'no commodity details' or 'no value details' restriction are included in Civil aircraft and confidentialised items. For earlier periods, commodities subject to a 'no commodity details' or 'no value details' restriction are included in Other merchandise goods. |
| (c) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (d) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (e) From July 1981, this component is not seasonally adjusted. |
CONSUMPTION GOODS
In trend terms, imports of consumption goods fell $32m to $8,633m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of consumption goods fell $202m (2%) to $8,460m.
The main components contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- non-industrial transport equipment, down $138m (6%)
- consumption goods n.e.s., down $35m (1%)
- textiles, clothing and footwear, down $25m (2%)
- food and beverages, mainly for consumption, down $25m (2%).
CAPITAL GOODS
In trend terms, imports of capital goods rose $47m (1%) to $6,234m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of capital goods rose $114m (2%) to $6,215m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- ADP equipment, up $128m (15%)
- civil aircraft and confidentialised items, up $116m (32%).
Partly offsetting these rises were:
- telecommunications equipment, down $64m (6%)
- machinery and industrial equipment, down $51m (2%).
INTERMEDIATE AND OTHER MERCHANDISE GOODS
In trend terms, imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods rose $22m to $10,433m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods rose $111m (1%) to $10,448m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- fuels and lubricants, up $126m (4%)
- primary industrial supplies n.e.s., up $102m (68%).
Partly offsetting these rises was processed industrial supplies n.e.s., down $105m (3%).
NON-MONETARY GOLD
In trend terms, imports of non-monetary gold rose $45m (8%) to $625m.
In original and seasonally adjusted terms, imports of non-monetary gold fell $104m (15%) to $608m.
Imports of services
SERVICES DEBITS
SERVICES DEBITS(a), Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | Change in: |
| | | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 | Apr 2018 |
| | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
|
| Total services debits | -7 449 | -7 408 | -7 479 | 71 | 1 |
| Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others(b) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.(b) | -46 | -47 | -57 | 10 | 21 |
| Transport | -1 466 | -1 441 | -1 433 | -8 | -1 |
| | Passenger(c) | -552 | -542 | -554 | 12 | 2 |
| | Freight | -837 | -823 | -803 | -20 | -2 |
| | Other(b) | -66 | -65 | -65 | - | - |
| | Postal and courier services(d)(e) | -11 | -11 | -11 | - | - |
| Travel | -3 672 | -3 635 | -3 686 | 51 | 1 |
| Other services | -2 266 | -2 285 | -2 304 | 19 | 1 |
| Memorandum item | | | | | |
| Tourism related services debits(f) | -4 224 | -4 177 | -4 240 | 63 | 2 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For sign conventions, see paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes. |
| (b) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (c) Passenger services includes agency fees and commissions for air transport. |
| (d) Postal and courier services includes indirect commissions for sea transport. |
| (e) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (f) For a more detailed explanation of tourism related services, see paragraph 29 of the Explanatory Notes. |
In trend terms, services debits fell $15m to $7,459m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, services debits rose $71m (1%) to $7,479m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- travel, up $51m (1%)
- other services, up $19m (1%).
In seasonally adjusted terms, tourism related services debits rose $63m (2%) to $4,240m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, total services debits contributed 23% of total goods and services imported.
Selected commodities
Selected commodities, quantity and unit value analysis - International merchandise trade basis(a): Original terms |
|
| | Change in |
| | Nov 2017 | Dec 2017 | Jan 2018 | Feb 2018 | Mar 2018 | Apr 2018 |
| | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Iron ore |
|
| Lump | | | | | | |
| Quantity | - | 10 | -16 | -2 | 10 | 2 |
| Unit value | -5 | 2 | 1 | 7 | - | -3 |
| Fines | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -3 | 16 | -17 | -3 | 9 | 6 |
| Unit value | 4 | 7 | 7 | 3 | -3 | -7 |
Coal |
|
| Hard coking | | | | | | |
| Quantity | 3 | 16 | - | -16 | 6 | -8 |
| Unit value | -3 | 2 | 10 | p4 | p-16 | p4 |
| Semi-soft | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -12 | 34 | -13 | -11 | 1 | -17 |
| Unit value | - | 5 | -1 | 8 | p - | p4 |
| Thermal | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -5 | 12 | -8 | -8 | 7 | 5 |
| Unit value | 5 | -1 | -1 | 4 | 1 | p-3 |
Gas |
|
| LNG | | | | | | |
| Quantity | 5 | 2 | 6 | -6 | 3 | 2 |
| Unit value | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | - | 1 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| p preliminary figure or series subject to revision |
| (a) Data in this table are on a revised international merchandise trade basis and exclude value adjustments applied to balance of payments series. |
International merchandise trade exports data presented in the above table are based on information reported by exporters to the
Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs). For commodities such as iron ore and coal, newly negotiated contract prices are not fully reflected in data first reported to Home Affairs. Final quantity and/or unit price information is updated progressively in international merchandise trade data as exporters revise the information provided to Home Affairs. When additional information for these commodities is available, the ABS may adjust the data to reflect actual transaction values.
Unit values in this publication are presented in Australian dollar terms. Movements in the unit values for some commodities incorporate movements in the United States dollar prices reported to Home Affairs and movements in the Australian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate.
On an international merchandise trade basis, in original terms (noting the footnote in the above table), between March and April 2018 the largest movements recorded for the following selected commodities were:
Iron ore lump, down $17m (1%), with quantities up 2% and unit values down 3%. Exports to:
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) fell $34m (3%), with quantities up 3% and unit values down 5%
- Netherlands fell $18m, with no exports in April 2018
- Japan rose $29m (16%), with quantities up 4% and unit values up 11%.
Iron ore fines, down $44m (1%), with quantities up 6% and unit values down 7%. Exports to:
- the Republic of Korea fell $59m (23%), with quantities down 21% and unit values down 2%
- India fell $44m, with no exports in April 2018
- Japan fell $37m (16%), with quantities down 23% and unit values up 10%
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) rose $66m (2%), with quantities up 11% and unit values down 8%.
Hard coking coal, down $77m (4%), with quantities down 8% and unit values up 4%. Exports to:
- Japan fell $114m (30%), with quantities down 31% and unit values up 3%
- Brazil fell $48m (63%), with quantities down 63% and unit values down 1%
- India fell $38m (6%), with quantities down 11% and unit values up 6%
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) rose $120m (36%), with quantities up 27% and unit values up 7%.
Semi-soft coal, down $119m (14%), with quantities down 17% and unit values up 4%. Exports to:
- India fell $102m (45%), with quantities down 47% and unit values up 4%
- Vietnam fell $32m, with no exports in April 2018.
Thermal coal, up $38m (2%), with quantities up 5% and unit values down 3%. Exports to:
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwain) rose $126m (31%), with quantities up 42% and unit values down 8%
- Japan fell $104m (12%), with quantities down 10% and unit values down 2%
- India fell $33m (66%), with quantities down 58% and unit values down 20%.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG), up $70m (2%), with quantities up 2% and unit values up 1%.
Quality Declaration 
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