8101.0 - Innovation and Technology Update (Newsletter), Nov 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 16/11/2001   
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7 SPECIAL ARTICLE: IT&T IMPORT AND EXPORT DATA

As mentioned in section 2.7, the next IT&T producers survey is being undertaken in respect of 2000-01, and biennially thereafter. However, some data in respect of IT&T goods and services trade are available for the financial year 1999-2000. They include IT&T import and export data and IT&T international trade in services data obtained from other sources. Available data are presented below.

Exports (including re-exports) of selected IT&T goods and services totalled $5,156 million in 1999-2000, an increase of 18% since 1998-99. Imports of these items were valued at $16,074 million, a 19% increase since 1998-99. This represents a trade deficit for 1999-2000 of $10,918 million and compares with $9,148 million in 1998-99. (It should be noted that the imports and exports details include amounts for re-exports, which are goods imported into Australia and subsequently exported in the same condition, or after undergoing minor operations which leave them essentially unchanged.)

Whilst total overall exports (including re-exports) rose since 1998-99, a number of item values actually fell over this period. On the other hand, there was an increase in the imports of all commodities in 1999-2000 compared with 1998-99. See Table 1 for details.

The major source of IT&T imports (excluding software) in 1999-2000 continued to be the United States of America ($3,020 million or 23%), Singapore ($1,536 million or 12%) and Malaysia ($1,345 million or 10%). The major destination of IT&T exports (excluding software) in 1999-2000 were New Zealand ($449 million or 16%) and the United States of America ($394 million or 14%). See Table 2 for details.

Trends for imports and exports of selected IT&T goods since 1995-96 are shown in the following graph.

Graph - Imports and exports of selected IT&T Goods(a)


Table 1 - Imports and Exports of Selected IT&T Goods and Services

Imports-Customs Value(a)
Exports-F.O.B.(a)
1998-99
1999-2000
% change
1998-99
1999-2000
% change
$m
$m
$m
$m
IT&T goods
Mainframe & data processing machines
448.0
520.1
16.1
185.0
96.6
-47.8
Laptop, notebook & similar portable computers
490.3
556.8
13.6
15.6
13.1
-16.0
PCs and similar desktop computers
1,065.9
1,229.8
15.4
30.6
23.7
-22.5
Laser and other printer systems
403.4
459.6
13.9
40.8
33.6
-17.6
Other input-output devices and peripherals (including scanners, keyboards, monitors etc)
665.5
676.7
1.7
na
na
na
Consumables (including removable storage media)
86.5
116.1
34.2
20.4
25.1
23.0
Other computer and communications hardware (excluding storage media)
4,620.4
4,761.3
3.0
1,248.0
1,214.6
-2.7
Telephone and telegraph equipment (excl. parts)
161.9
249.7
54.2
20.3
10.6
-47.8
Mobile, cellular and car phones
768.2
1,097.7
42.9
na
na
na
CB and other mobile radio transceiving equipment
74.7
662.2
786.5
na
144.1
na
Other telecommunications and transceiving equipment
1,866.0
2,454.8
31.6
624.1
913.4
46.4
Insulated optical fibre cable
30.0
81.0
170.0
14.0
238.7
1,605.0
Co-axial cable and other co-axial electrical conductors
76.1
133.3
75.2
43.2
47.8
10.6
Total IT&T goods
10,756.9
12,999.2
20.8
2,242.0
2,761.3
23.2
IT&T services
Packaged software and associated licensing
918.1
979.9
6.7
328.8
366.5
11.5
Computer services
392.0
431.0
9.9
662.0
654.0
-1.2
Telecommunication services(b)
1,467.0
1,664.0
13.4
1,153.0
1,374.0
19.2
Total IT&T services
2,777.1
3,074.9
10.7
2,143.8
2,394.5
11.7
Total IT&T goods & services
13,534.0
16,074.1
18.8
4,385.8
5,155.8
17.6

na not available
(a) Import and export data are compiled by the ABS from information submitted by importers, exporters or their agents to the Australian Customs Service. Exports includes exports of Australian commodities and re-exports of foreign origin. Because of the large volume of transactions involved, it is inevitable that there will be some errors, misclassifications and approximations in the statistics.
(b) Includes both postal and telecommunication service data. Telecommunication services data are not separately available.


Table 2 - Imports and Exports of Selected IT&T Goods(a) by Major Country of Origin/Destination(b), 1999-2000

Computers
Printers, input/
output devices & peripherals
Computer parts &
accessories
Mobile
comm-
unications
Other
comms
equipment & cables
Total(c)
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
Imports

Canada
8.1
3.8
51.0
126.2
118.7
307.9
China
58.9
148.3
226.1
19.7
84.2
537.1
Finland
2.3
0.8
2.0
30.7
53.2
88.9
France
2.0
5.8
21.5
53.2
75.0
157.4
Germany
11.6
6.1
92.2
80.4
86.5
276.8
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
21.8
15.3
203
6.0
24.7
270.7
Ireland
29.0
1.0
117.6
0.4
41.1
189.1
Japan
264.6
147.9
447.7
12.1
204.8
1,077.1
Korea, Republic of
55.7
92.1
85.3
618.7
29.6
881.4
Malaysia
495.1
128.8
527.7
125.8
67.5
1,344.8
Mexico
25.3
5.5
56.8
0.1
38.8
126.5
Philippines
31.4
14.8
102.0
34.0
12.3
194.5
Singapore
374.0
170.1
759.7
118.5
113.1
1,535.6
Sweden
43.7
6.8
40.7
144.3
119.5
354.9
Taiwan
429.4
139.5
482.3
8.7
63.4
1,123.3
Thailand
0.9
83.4
46.8
5.5
36.9
173.5
United Kingdom
21.8
3.9
95.8
31.1
676.8
829.5
United States of America
414.5
110.6
1332.6
263.0
898.8
3,019.5
Total(d)
2,306.7
1,136.3
4,877.5
1,759.9
2,918.8
12,999.2
Exports
Canada
0.4
0
10.3
0
29.3
40.0
China
0.6
0.7
11.2
0
22.4
34.9
Germany
0.8
0.4
63.1
0
24.1
88.4
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
12.1
0.6
103.2
0
23.1
139.0
Japan
9.5
4.1
68.6
0
10.6
92.8
Malaysia
1.8
0.7
25.9
0
25.9
54.3
New Zealand
48.9
9.5
318.8
0
71.6
448.7
Papua New Guinea
0.5
0.3
30.8
0
5.3
36.9
Philippines
0.9
0
10.9
0
42.4
54.3
Singapore
12.1
2.9
106.7
0
32.1
153.7
Thailand
0.9
0.7
10.2
0
21.8
33.6
United Kingdom
1.9
0.7
38.8
0
19.5
60.9
United States of America
13.9
6.7
259.2
0
114.2
394.1
Total(e)
133.3
33.6
1,239.7
144.1
1,210.5
2,761.3

(a) Data in this table relate to merchandise trade and not to trade in services. Import and export data are compiled by the ABS from information submitted by importers, exporters or their agents to the Australian Customs Service. Exports include exports of Australian commodities and re-exports of goods of foreign origin. Because of the large volume of transactions involved, it is inevitable that there will be some errors, misclassifications and approximations in the statistics.
(b) Countries are classified according to the 1998 Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC, Cat. no. 1269.0).
(c) Excludes packaged software.
(d) Includes re-imports and imports with country unknown.
(e) Includes exports classified to International Waters, Ship and Aircraft Stores, Zone of Cooperation A in the Timor Gap, and a commodity subject to a 'no country details' confidentiality restriction.