6457.0 - International Trade Price Indexes, Australia, Mar 2014 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/05/2014   
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COMMENTARY


IMPORT PRICE INDEX

The Import Price Index rose 3.2% in the March quarter 2014. This increase was driven primarily by the depreciation of the Australian dollar against major trading currencies, as well as rises in the prices paid for petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+3.6%), electrical machinery, etc. and parts thereof (+4.7%), and general industrial machinery and equipment, n.e.s., and machine parts, n.e.s. (+2.4%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2014, the Import Price Index rose 8.6%. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices paid for petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+10.1%), general industrial machinery and equipment, n.e.s., and machine parts, n.e.s. (+11.2%) and electrical machinery, etc. and parts thereof (+12.6). Partly offsetting these through the year rises were falls in the prices paid for gold, non-monetary (excluding gold ores and concentrates) (-8.2%).


Major Import Products

Australia's major import products based on contribution are;

  • Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (SITC 33) (+3.6%)
  • Road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles) (SITC 78) (+0.3%)
  • General industrial machinery and equipment, n.e.s., and machine parts, n.e.s. (SITC 74) (+2.4%)
  • Electrical machinery, etc. and parts thereof (SITC 77) (+4.7%)
  • Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment (SITC 76) (+2.3%)


EXPORT PRICE INDEX

The Export Price Index rose 3.6% in the March quarter 2014. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices received for gas, natural and manufactured (+18.7%), metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+3.1%), meat and meat preparations (+8.4%), gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (+4.5%), non-ferrous metals (+5.1%) and petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+3.2%).

Through the year to the March quarter 2014, the Export Price Index rose 7.0%. This increase was driven mainly by rises in the prices received for metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+9.9%), gas, natural and manufactured (+39.6%), petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+11.9%), meat and meat preparations (+15.5%), dairy products and birds' eggs (+33.6%), power generating machinery and equipment (+10.1%), and textile fibres and their wastes (+10.2%). Partly offsetting these through the year rises were falls in the prices received for coal, coke and briquettes (-3.6%), and gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (-9.1%).


Major Export Products

Australia's major export products based on contribution are;
  • Metalliferous ores and metal scrap (SITC 28) (+3.1%)
  • Coal, coke and briquettes (SITC 32) (+0.3%)
  • Gas, natural and manufactured (SITC 34) (+18.7%)
  • Gold, non-monetary (excluding gold, ores and concentrates) (SITC 97) (+4.5%)
  • Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (SITC 33) (+3.2%)