4156.0 - Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, Oct 2010  
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Contents >> Products >> International Trade in Sporting and Physical Recreation Products

INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SPORTING AND PHYSICAL RECREATION PRODUCTS

International trade statistics are compiled from information supplied to Customs by exporters and importers or their agents. There are 1.2 million export transactions and 5 million import transactions recorded each year, many of which are small value records. Due to the large volume of transactions involved and the limited resources available to undertake checks, ABS editing resources are mostly focussed on editing large value records. The majority of data about international trade in sports and physical recreation products relate to small value records, which are 'as reported to Customs'. More information about the quality of international trade data are included in the ABS publication Information Paper: Ensuring International Trade Data Quality, 2008 (cat. no. 5498.0.55.001).

There are some sporting and physical recreation products for which trade data are not separately available, primarily because they are parts of larger product categories predominantly out of scope of the ACLC Product Classification. Sports apparel is one example. The various items of sports apparel are not separately identified in trade statistics, but are instead included in parts of more general categories of clothing. Another example is automatic bowling alley equipment, which for the purposes of international trade, is part of the category other articles for funfair, table or parlour games. This category is predominantly in scope of the other leisure products part of the ACLC Product Classification and hence is excluded from data concerning international trade in sports and physical recreation products.

Australia's trade in the selected sports and physical recreation goods is in deficit. Imports of these goods during 2008-09 were valued at $2,055.5m. This is over four times the $463.1m in sports and physical recreation goods which was exported during that year. The category of boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports ($181.0m) was the main contributor to the overall export figure, followed by horses with $152.5m. Together these categories accounted for over 72% of total exports. At $447.9m, the category of boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports was also the main contributor to the overall import figure, followed by gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment with $247.2m. The combined contribution of these categories to total imports was over 30%.

The main source countries of imported sports and physical recreation goods during 2008-09 were China ($791.9m) and the United States of America (USA) ($366.8m), together accounting for over half of all imports of these goods. New Zealand was the largest market for exported sports and physical recreation goods ($108.9m), while the second largest market was the USA ($63.1m). The combined purchases by these two countries of Australian sports and physical recreation exports accounted for over one-third of the total (37%).


Exports of sporting and physical recreation goods

Sporting and physical recreation goods exported from Australia during 2008-09 were valued at $463.1m, 9% lower than the $510.9m recorded for 2007-08.

Since 2002-03, the product categories boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports and horses have been the dominant contributors to the total value of sports and physical recreation goods exported. During that time, their combined contribution has always exceeded 60%. For boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports, the value (in current prices) increased for all years except 2003-04 and 2008-09. This category had an export figure of $181.0m for 2008-09, which decreased by 43% from the $316.7m recorded for 2007-08. The value of exports of horses increased significantly from $88.7m being reported for 2007-08 to $152.5m for 2008-09.

Other product categories which have made substantial contributions to total exports since 2002-03 are other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation, swimming pools and paddling pools and spark-ignition marine outboard motors. For 2008-09, these categories contributed exports worth $21.5m and $16.3m respectively.

12.1 EXPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTING AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS(a)(b), Current prices - 2002-03 to 2008-09

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Horses
121.3
117.1
101.9
114.4
141.8
88.7
152.5
Swimwear for women and girls
7.3
9.7
12.9
10.6
11.7
12.2
13.1
Sports or physical recreation footwear
9.1
7.7
6.0
8.3
5.8
6.2
10.1
Waterskis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment
19.0
19.6
21.2
21.7
21.8
15.6
14.3
Golf clubs and other golf equipment
41.5
18.0
7.7
12.1
11.4
11.1
9.1
Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation; swimming pools and paddling pools
19.3
19.9
22.4
22.2
25.2
25.3
21.5
Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports
186.8
123.3
199.9
230.3
232.6
r316.7
181.0
Spark-ignition marine outboard motors
13.5
14.0
15.3
17.2
11.7
17.5
16.3
Total(c)
473.9
381.8
436.6
483.2
508.8
510.9
463.1

r revised
(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.  
(b) Other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
(c) Total includes exports of all sports and physical recreation goods.
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS SERVICE-Electronic Delivery.



Destination of exports

Throughout the period 2002-03 to 2000-09, New Zealand and the USA have been the major destinations for sports and physical recreation goods exported from Australia. For 2008-09, the value of exports to New Zealand was higher at $108.9m compared with $63.1m to the USA. Exports to Hong Kong was the third-placed export destination with $49.1m, while this figure was 54% higher than the $31.9m worth of goods exported in 2007-08.

Exports to the USA decreased from $111.6m in 2007-08 to $63.1m in 2008-09. Singapore had a 68% decrease in it's exports from $62.6m in 2007-08 to $20.1m in 2008-09. For 2007-08, the value of exports to Italy was $29.4m which decreased to $24.2m in 2008-09. Exports to New Zealand increased from $98.5m in 2007-08 to $108.9m in 2008-09.

These fluctuations in the value of exports of sports and physical recreation goods may be a result of relatively large value items such as boats and horses included in the data. Relatively small fluctuations in the volume of exports of these goods can have a relatively large impact on the value of exports to an individual country.

12.2 EXPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTING AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS(a)(b), By destination - 2002-03 to 2008-09

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

New Zealand
106.8
94.7
108.8
126.9
138.5
98.5
108.9
United States of America
96.7
63.2
95.4
105.4
95.4
111.6
63.1
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
39.5
34.9
29.2
35.3
39.0
31.9
49.1
Italy
10.9
10.1
22.6
23.0
19.7
29.4
24.2
Singapore
14.4
9.7
7.9
12.8
24.5
62.6
20.1
United Kingdom
19.2
37.3
14.1
14.0
24.2
16.9
17.9
South Africa
5.6
4.8
8.8
14.0
20.2
10.6
16.5
United Arab Emirates
7.4
4.7
7.5
9.0
12.2
9.3
15.4
Japan
22.9
14.7
17.8
16.8
19.6
9.9
12.3
Papua New Guinea
3.9
6.7
5.0
6.4
4.5
11.7
11.9
Other countries
163.2
104.2
124.3
128.9
118.8
107.8
123.7
Total
473.9
381.8
436.6
483.2
508.8
510.9
463.1

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.
(b) Breakdown in other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS Service-Electronic Delivery.



Imports of sporting and physical recreation goods

The value (in current prices) of sports and physical recreation goods imported into Australia during 2008-09 was $2,055.5m. This was 1.1% lower than the $2,078.8m recorded in 2007-08.

Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports and gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment were the product categories which contributed most to the value of imports of sports and physical recreation goods in 2008-09. These two categories were also the top two in terms of value of goods imported for the previous two years. Other categories in the top five for 2008-09 were bicycles and other cycles, not motorised ($239.9m); sports or physical recreation footwear ($161.4m) and spark-ignition marine outboard motors ($137.6m). Together, these five sports and physical recreation product categories accounted for 60% ($1,234.2m) of total imports of sports and physical recreation goods in 2008-09 and not less than 54% of the total in any other year since 2002-03.

12.3 IMPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTING AND PHYSICAL RECREATION PRODUCTS(a)(b), Current prices - 2002-03 to 2008-09

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Horses
92.5
66.2
84.2
108.2
130.3
129.0
101.9
Tents
34.6
32.4
43.7
52.9
56.4
57.9
64.3
Swimwear for women and girls
33.8
30.6
38.3
42.4
46.1
41.9
49.0
Saddlery and harness, for any animal, of any material
23.6
24.6
30.5
30.1
38.5
34.1
38.7
Sports or physical recreation footwear
187.1
148.0
159.7
155.8
175.7
142.2
161.4
Waterskis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment
33.0
35.1
42.2
47.2
50.3
49.4
50.3
Gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment
100.6
111.4
155.1
203.5
241.1
227.4
247.4
Golf clubs and other golf equipment
99.5
84.0
92.4
90.9
91.1
85.6
92.9
Sports balls
36.3
28.8
31.2
36.7
r36.5
34.4
38.4
Fishing rods and other line fishing tackle; fish landing nets, butterfly and similar nets; decoy 'birds' and similar hunting or shooting requisites
58.8
57.2
59.8
68.8
78.4
73.9
88.5
Sporting, hunting or target-shooting shotguns and rifles
15.9
14.2
17.1
18.6
r21.7
24.0
31.0
Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation; swimming pools and paddling pools
67.3
64.8
74.3
85.2
109.8
100.7
127.9
Snowmobiles; and golf cars and similar vehicles
13.8
13.8
21.7
21.8
19.0
21.8
16.3
Bicycles and other cycles, not motorised
130.8
111.4
149.9
163.6
174.9
174.5
239.9
Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports
137.5
223.1
373.6
474.6
521.3
591.9
447.9
Spark-ignition marine outboard motors
174.5
172.5
182.4
208.2
186.3
169.8
137.6
Total(c)
1 349.0
1 317.2
1 662.5
1 925.8
2 096.1
2 078.8
2 055.5

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using the Australian Customs Value.
(b) Other imports of sports and physical recreation products are available on request.
(c) Total includes imports of all sports and physical recreation products.
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS Service-Electronic Delivery.



Origin of imports

Throughout the period 2002-03 to 2008-09, China and the USA have been the major sources of sporting and physical recreation goods imported into Australia. For 2008-09, the combined imports from these two countries amounted to $1,158.7m, which was over half the total of all imports of these goods. China was the largest contributor to this figure and provided imports worth $791.9m. The $366.8m contributed to the total figure by the USA placed it second as a source of Australia's imports. This amount was 73% higher than the $211.7m worth of goods imported from Taiwan which was the third-placed import source. Following Taiwan were Japan, which provided imports worth $103.8m in 2008-09; New Zealand with $97.0m; and the United Kingdom with $92.1m.

These countries were the top six sources of imports for every year of the period 2001-02 to 2007-08. Together they provided between 80% and 82% of Australia's imports of sporting and physical recreation goods in each year in this period.

Imports from China rose by 77% from $447.6m in 2002-03 to $791.9m in 2008-09, while imports from the USA increased by 40% during this period ($261.6m to $366.8m). The value of imports from Taiwan doubled over this period - from $105.3m in 2002-03 to $211.7m in 2008-09.

12.4 IMPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTING AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS(a)(b), Current prices - By country of origin - 2002-03 to 2008-09

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

China
447.6
407.4
502.9
585.3
706.3
682.9
791.9
United States of America
261.6
274.4
381.6
473.0
420.2
413.6
366.8
Taiwan
105.3
96.5
136.5
156.9
169.4
155.4
211.7
Japan
140.8
129.1
145.6
161.5
132.7
145.2
103.8
New Zealand
71.7
78.9
97.6
96.1
112.0
117.2
97.0
United Kingdom
63.5
65.3
78.5
102.6
126.4
130.3
92.1
France
25.5
28.1
34.7
34.5
47.8
59.5
35.6
Canada
15.6
18.1
22.7
29.6
50.9
40.0
34.0
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
17.0
15.5
18.5
19.9
20.5
19.0
31.2
Viet Nam
25.4
20.2
25.6
24.8
31.8
26.6
30.5
Italy
24.5
27.0
29.5
36.5
52.7
59.2
30.2
India
24.0
26.2
28.5
28.8
34.7
29.8
29.6
Total(c)
1 349.0
1 317.2
1 662.5
1 925.8
2 092.5
2 078.8
2 055.5

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using the Australian Customs Value.
(b) Other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
(c) Total includes exports of all sports and physical recreation goods
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS Service-Electronic Delivery.



Balance of trade in sporting and physical recreation goods

The countries shown in Graph 12.5 were Australia's major trading partners in sporting and physical recreation goods for 2008-09. That is, they were the countries with which total transactions (exports and imports) were greatest. Australia had a trade deficit with all but two of these countries in 2008-09 for sporting and physical recreation goods. The largest trade deficit was with China ($787.4m), followed by the USA ($303.7m), Taiwan ($210.8m) and Japan ($91.5m). Australia's largest trade surplus in sporting and physical recreation goods was with Hong Kong (SAR of China) ($17.9m), while New Zealand was the only other major trading partner with which Australia had a trade surplus ($11.9m).

12.5 Balance of trade in selected sporting and physical recreation goods - 2008-09
Graph: 12.5 Balance of trade in selected sporting and physical recreation goods—2008–09








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