5368.0 - International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia, Mar 2005  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/05/2005   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

MARCH KEY FIGURES

January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
Feb 05 to Mar 05
$m
$m
$m
% change

Trend

Balance on goods & services
-2,376
-2,417
-2,445
. .
Credits (exports of goods & services)
13,297
13,352
13,384
-
Debits (imports of goods & services)
15,673
15,769
15,829
-

Seasonally Adjusted

Balance on goods & services
-2,237
-2,238
-2,672
. .
Credits (exports of goods & services)
13,472
13,403
13,284
-1
Debits (imports of goods & services)
15,709
15,641
15,956
2

. . not applicable
- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)

Balance on goods and services
Graph: Balance on goods and services



MARCH KEY POINTS


TREND ESTIMATES
  • The provisional trend estimate of the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $2,445m in March 2005, an increase of $28m on the deficit in February.
  • Goods and services credits rose $32m to $13,384m. Non-rural and other goods rose $14m, while rural goods fell $27m (1%). Services credits rose $45m (1%).
  • Goods and services debits rose $60m to $15,829m. Intermediate and other goods rose $45m (1%) and consumption goods rose $35m (1%), while capital goods fell $17m (1%). Services debits fell $3m.


SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES
  • In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $2,672m in March, an increase of $434m on the deficit in February.
  • Goods and services credits fell $119m (1%) to $13,284m. Rural goods fell $171m (8%), while non-rural and other goods rose $20m. Services credits rose $32m (1%).
  • Goods and services debits rose $315m (2%) to $15,956m. Intermediate and other goods rose $503m (9%) and consumption goods rose $16m, while capital goods fell $111m (4%). Services debits fell $93m (3%).


ORIGINAL ESTIMATES
  • In original terms, the March balance on goods and services was a deficit of $2,132m, an increase of $1,383m on the deficit in February. Goods and services credits rose $145m (1%) and goods and services debits rose $1,528m (11%).
  • In the nine months to March, exports of non-rural and other goods were up $10.4b (17%) and rural goods were up $2.0b (12%) on the corresponding period in 2003-04.


NOTES



AVAILABILITY OF DETAILED EXPORTS DATA

The problem identified in the February 2005 issue of this publication, which prevented the release of detailed exports data for the months of January and February 2005, has been resolved. The full set of detailed trade exports data is now available.



REVISIONS

Revisions were made to incorporate the latest available data relating to merchandise trade (including complete exports data for January and February 2005) and the quarterly Survey of International Trade in Services. In original terms, these revisions have increased the deficit on goods and services for the eight months to February 2005 by $107m.



AVAILABILITY OF DETAILED SERVICES DATA

Calendar and financial year statistics on Australian international trade in services by partner country and state are being released in conjunction with this issue. These data were previously released in feature articles associated with this publication. The feature articles have been replaced by AusStats tables containing detailed times series data. A list of these new AusStats tables, numbered 21 to 36, is available on page 4 of this publication. Corresponding with every March monthly release, the calendar year data will be updated, while with every September monthly release, the financial year data will be updated.



INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Artur Andrysiak on Canberra (02) 6252 6792.



ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS


BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES

The trend estimate of the balance on goods and services in March 2005 was a deficit of $2,445m, an increase of $28m on the deficit in February.


In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services in March 2005 was a deficit of $2,672m, an increase of $434m on the deficit in February.


The sum of the seasonally adjusted balances for the three months to March 2005 was a deficit of $7,147m, a decrease of $27m on the deficit of $7,174m for the three months to December 2004. However, if the more detailed seasonal factors used in compiling quarterly Balance of Payments are applied, the March quarter 2005 deficit was $7,072m, an increase of $372m on the December quarter 2004 deficit of $6,700m.



EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES

The trend estimate of goods and services credits rose $32m between February and March to $13,384m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services credits fell $119m (1%) between February and March to $13,284m. Rural goods fell $171m (8%), while services credits rose $32m (1%) and non-rural and other goods rose $20m.


Exports of goods

GOODS CREDITS
Graph: Goods Credits



Rural goods

The trend estimate of rural goods exports fell $27m (1%) to $1,959m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of rural goods fell $171m (8%) to $1,904m.


In original terms, exports of rural goods rose $8m to $2,032m.


Movements in the original series contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted terms were:

  • other rural, up marginally, compared with an average February to March rise of 8% over the previous three years
  • cereal grains and cereal preparations, down $98m (21%), compared with an average February to March fall of 10% over the previous three years
  • wool and sheepskins, up $15m (6%), compared with an average February to March rise of 24% over the previous three years.

Exports of goods continued

Non-rural and other goods

The trend estimate of non-rural and other goods exports rose $14m to $8,306m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of non-rural and other goods rose $20m to $8,247m.


In original terms, exports of non-rural and other goods rose $962m (13%) to $8,348m.


Movements in the original series contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted terms were:

  • metal ores and minerals, up $402m (32%), compared with an average February to March rise of 14% over the previous three years
  • other goods, down $5m (1%), compared with an average February to March fall of 9% over the previous three years.

Partly offsetting these effects were:
  • coal, coke and briquettes, up $7m (1%), compared with an average February to March rise of 13% over the previous three years
  • metals (excluding gold), up $112m (18%), compared with an average February to March rise of 27% over the previous three years
  • other non-rural, up $131m (16%), compared with an average February to March rise of 21% over the previous three years.

Exports of Services
SERVICES CREDITS
Graph: Services Credits



In trend terms, services credits rose $45m (1%) to $3,119m.


Seasonally adjusted, services credits rose $32m (1%) to $3,133m.


Movements in the seasonally adjusted components contributing to this rise were:

  • other services, up $16m (2%)
  • passenger and other transportation services, up $15m (2%).

Seasonally adjusted, tourism related services credits fell $30m (2%) to $1,913m.



IMPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES

The trend estimate of goods and services debits rose $60m between February and March to $15,829m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services debits rose $315m (2%) to $15,956m. Intermediate and other goods rose $503m (9%) and consumption goods rose $16m, while capital goods fell $111m (4%) and services debits fell $93m (3%).


Preliminary analysis shows that goods imports volumes, in seasonally adjusted terms, increased about 3.1% during the March quarter 2005. The Chain Laspeyres price index fell about 1.9% and the implicit price deflator fell about 2.2%. The final volume and price outcomes will be published in the March quarter 2005 issue of Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (5302.0).


Imports of goods

GOODS DEBITS
Graph: GOODS DEBITS



Consumption goods

The trend estimate of imports of consumption goods rose $35m (1%) to $4,096m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of consumption goods rose $16m to $4,070m.


In original terms, imports of consumption goods fell $11m to $3,701m.


The main movement in the original series contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted terms was food and beverages, up $49m (12%), compared with an average February to March rise of 9% over the previous three years.


Partly offsetting this effect was:

  • textiles, clothing and footwear down $142m (25%), compared with an average February to March fall of 5% over the previous three years
  • household electrical items, down $9m (3%), in contrast to an average February to March rise of 11% over the previous three years.

Capital goods

The trend estimate of imports of capital goods fell $17m (1%) to $2,856m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of capital goods fell $111m (4%) to $2,838m.


In original terms, imports of capital goods rose $418m (17%) to $2,896m.


Movements in the original series contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted terms were:

  • machinery and industrial equipment, up $8m (1%), compared with an average February to March rise of 9% over the previous three years
  • telecommunications equipment, up $50m (16%), compared with an average February to March rise of 36% over the previous three years.

Partly offsetting these effects were:
  • industrial transport equipment n.e.s., up $81m (24%), compared with an average February to March rise of 9% over the previous three years
  • civil aircraft, up $91m, compared with smaller February to March rises over the previous three years.

Intermediate and Other Goods

The trend estimate of imports of intermediate and other goods rose $45m (1%) to $5,740m.


In seasonally adjusted terms, intermediate and other goods imports rose $503m (9%) to $6,002m.


In original terms, imports of intermediate and other goods rose $968m (19%) to $6,052m.


Movements in the original series contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted terms were:

  • fuels and lubricants, up $425m (44%), compared with an average February to March rise of 17% over the previous three years (crude petroleum volumes rose 29% and prices rose 13% between February and March)
  • other goods, up $115m (34%), compared with an average February to March rise of 1% over the previous three years
  • parts for transport equipment, up $106m (20%), compared with an average February to March rise of 12% over the previous three years
  • other parts for capital goods, up $97m (13%), compared with an average February to March rise of 10% over the previous three years.

Partly offsetting these effects were:
  • processed industrial supplies n.e.s., up $94m (8%), compared with an average February to March rise of 14% over the previous three years
  • iron and steel, up $5m (2%), compared with an average February to March rise of 8% over the previous three years
  • plastics, up $7m (3%), compared with an average February to March rise of 12% over the previous three years.

Imports of Services
SERVICES DEBITS
Graph: SERVICES DEBITS



In trend terms, services debits fell $3m to $3,137m.


Seasonally adjusted, services debits fell $93m (3%) to $3,046m.


Movements in the seasonally adjusted components contributing to this fall were:

  • freight transportation services, down $62m (10%)
  • travel services, down $29m (3%)
  • passenger and other transportation services, down $11m (2%).

Partly offsetting these effects were other services, up $9m (1%).


Seasonally adjusted, tourism related services debits fell $92m (6%) to $1,504m.