5302.0 - Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia, Sep 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 01/12/2015   
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ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS


BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

In original current price terms, the September quarter 2015 current account deficit was $21,191m, an increase of $4,532m (27%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit. In original current price terms, the balance on goods and services contributed $9,337m, primary income contributed $11,344m and secondary income contributed $510m to the deficit.

The capital and financial account surplus was $18,753m, with the capital account contributing a net deficit of $113m and the financial account contributing $18,866m to the surplus.

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS, Summary(a): Original

Sep 2014
Dec 2014
Mar 2015
Jun 2015
Sep 2015
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

CURRENT ACCOUNT
-15 744
-12 851
-13 272
-16 659
-21 191
Goods and services
-5 639
-4 757
-3 627
-8 544
-9 337
Credits
80 610
82 540
78 748
76 839
81 376
Debits
-86 249
-87 297
-82 375
-85 383
-90 713
Goods
-2 614
-2 729
-2 601
-6 216
-6 425
Credits
65 449
66 610
62 513
61 395
65 350
Debits
-68 063
-69 339
-65 114
-67 611
-71 775
Services
-3 025
-2 028
-1 026
-2 328
-2 912
Credits
15 161
15 930
16 235
15 444
16 026
Debits
-18 186
-17 958
-17 261
-17 772
-18 938
Primary income
-9 612
-7 561
-8 887
-7 460
-11 344
Credits
13 648
13 283
12 871
13 569
13 149
Debits
-23 261
-20 844
-21 758
-21 029
-24 493
Secondary income
-493
-533
-758
-655
-510
Credits
1 921
1 939
1 922
1 964
1 960
Debits
-2 414
-2 472
-2 680
-2 619
-2 470
CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL ACCOUNT
16 292
9 621
14 942
13 413
18 753
Capital account
-99
-129
-134
-155
-113
Acquisitions/disposals of non-produced non-financial assets
18
-2
-1
-1
4
Credits
21
-
1
-
4
Debits
-3
-2
-2
-1
-
Capital transfers
-117
-127
-133
-154
-117
Credits
-
-
-
-
-
Debits
-117
-127
-133
-154
-117
Financial account
16 391
9 750
15 076
13 568
18 866
Direct investment
20 129
6 467
12 787
5 085
4 475
Assets
-238
-3 444
-1 616
-12 839
-9 414
Liabilities
20 367
9 911
14 403
17 924
13 889
Portfolio investment
-2 991
10 317
21 049
17 980
5 675
Assets
-14 243
-14 385
-14 506
842
-5 511
Liabilities
11 253
24 702
35 555
17 138
11 186
Financial derivatives
-6 891
1 002
-800
2 936
3 901
Assets
5 758
2 154
14 538
44 638
8 415
Liabilities
-12 649
-1 152
-15 338
-41 701
-4 513
Other investment
2 405
-5 336
-12 326
-19 151
3 622
Assets
6 753
3 119
-28 039
-30 040
-14 456
Liabilities
-4 348
-8 455
15 712
10 889
18 078
Reserve assets
3 739
-2 701
-5 633
6 717
1 192
NET ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
-548
3 230
-1 671
3 245
2 438

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) For sign conventions, see paragraphs 15-17 of the Explanatory Notes.


In seasonally adjusted current price terms, the September quarter 2015 current account deficit was $18,104m, a decrease of $2,402m (12%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit.

In trend current price terms, the September quarter 2015 current account deficit was $19,699m, an increase of $2,235m (13%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit.

The contributors to the current account balances, in seasonally adjusted and trend terms at current prices, are shown in the following table.

BALANCE ON CURRENT ACCOUNT IN CURRENT PRICES - September Quarter 2015

Change in:
Current prices
Current prices
Current prices
$m
$m
%

Seasonally Adjusted

Balance on current account
-18 104
2 402
11.7
Balance on goods and services
-7 438
3 508
32.0
Net goods
-5 333
3 305
38.3
Net services
-2 105
203
8.8
Net primary income
-10 054
-1 106
-12.4
Net secondary income
-613
-1
-0.2

Trend

Balance on current account
-19 699
-2 235
-12.8
Balance on goods and services
-9 464
-1 586
-20.1
Net goods
-7 228
-1 507
-26.3
Net services
-2 236
-78
-3.6
Net primary income
-9 629
-653
-7.3
Net secondary income
-607
3
0.5



TERMS OF TRADE(footnote 1)

Australia's seasonally adjusted terms of trade on net goods and services for the September quarter 2015 fell 2.4% to 83.3, with an increase of 0.4% in the implicit price deflator (IPD) for goods and services credits and an increase of 2.9% in the IPD for goods and services debits.

In trend terms, the terms of trade for net goods and services fell 2.9% to 83.4.


IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATOR AND TERMS OF TRADE (a)
Graph: IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATOR AND TERMS OF TRADE (a)



BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES

In seasonally adjusted chain volume terms, the balance on goods and services was a surplus of $8,287m, an increase of $6,109m on the June quarter 2015 surplus of $2,178m.

The net surplus on goods increased $5,102m (149%) on the June quarter 2015 surplus of $3,432m. Goods credits rose $3,878m (5%) and goods debits fell $1,224m (2%). The net deficit on services decreased $1,007m (80%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit of $1,254m.

The increase in the balance on goods and services surplus, in seasonally adjusted chain volume terms, is expected to contribute 1.5 percentage points to growth in the September quarter 2015 volume measure of GDP, assuming no significant revision to the GDP chain volume estimate for the June quarter 2015.



GOODS AND SERVICES, CHAIN VOLUME MEASURES (a)
Graph: GOODS AND SERVICES, CHAIN VOLUME MEASURES (a)



Goods

The trend estimate of net goods at current prices for the September quarter 2015 was a deficit of $7,228m, an increase of $1,507m (26%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit of $5,721m.

In seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, net goods was a deficit of $5,333m, a decrease of $3,305m (38%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit of $8,638m.

GOODS, Price and volume analysis: Seasonally adjusted - September Quarter 2015

Change in:
Current prices
Current prices
Chain volume measures(a)
Implicit price deflators(a)(b)
$m
%
%
%

Exports
3 614
6.0
5.4
0.6
Rural goods
-45
-0.4
-6.4
6.4
Non-rural goods
2 000
4.3
4.8
-0.5
Net exports of goods under merchanting
11
11.2
11.1
0.1
Non-monetary gold
1 648
56.3
57.5
-0.7
Imports
310
0.4
-1.8
2.3
Consumption goods
1 124
4.8
0.8
3.9
Capital goods
855
5.5
0.8
4.7
Intermediate and other merchandise goods
-1 819
-6.2
-5.3
-0.9
Non-monetary gold
150
14.8
13.6
1.0

(a) Reference year 2013-14.
(b) Movements in indexes are based on data to four decimal places.



GOODS CREDITS

The trend estimate of goods credits at current prices fell $643m (1%) to $62,723m in the September quarter 2015.

In seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, goods credits rose $3,614m (6%) to $64,336m, with volumes up 5%.


Rural Goods

Exports of rural goods, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, fell $45m to $11,189m, with volumes down 6% and prices up 6%. The main component contributing to the fall was wool and sheepskins, down $71m (8%), with volumes down 21% and prices up 17%.

Partly offsetting this fall was cereal grains and cereal preparations, up $16m (1%), with volumes down 5% and prices up 6%.


Non-rural Goods

Exports of non-rural goods, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, rose $2,000m (4%) to $48,466m, with volumes up 5% and prices down 1%.

The main components contributing to the rise were:
  • metal ores and minerals, up $637m (4%), with volumes up 3%
  • other mineral fuels, up $508m (10%), with volumes up 9% and prices up 1%
  • coal, coke and briquettes, up $475m (5%), with volumes up 6% and prices down 1%
  • metals (excl. non-monetary gold), up $316m (13%), with volumes up 25% and prices down 10%.
SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES, CURRENT PRICES(a)
Graph: SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES, CURRENT PRICES(a)



Net Exports of Goods Under Merchanting

Net exports of goods under merchanting, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, rose $11m (11%), with volumes up 11%.


Non-monetary Gold

Non-monetary gold, in original and seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, rose $1,648m (56%), with volumes up 58% and prices down 1%.


GOODS DEBITS

The trend estimate of goods debits at current prices rose $865m (1%) to $69,951m in the September quarter 2015.

In seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, goods debits rose $310m to $69,670m, with volumes down 2% and prices up 2%.


Consumption Goods

Imports of consumption goods, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices rose $1,124m (5%), with volumes up 1% and prices up 4%.

The main components contributing to the rise were:
  • consumption goods n.e.s., up $304m (4%), with volumes down 2% and prices up 6%
  • textiles, clothing and footwear, up $231m (6%), with volumes up 1% and prices up 5%
  • toys, books and leisure goods, up $207m (14%), with volumes up 10% and prices up 3%
  • non-industrial transport equipment, up $196m (3%), with volumes up 1% and prices up 2%.


Capital Goods

Imports of capital goods, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices rose $855m (5%) to $16,496m, with volumes up 1% and prices up 5%. The main component contributing to the rise was civil aircraft and confidentialised items, up $1,048m (86%), with volumes up 77% and prices up 6%.

Partly offsetting this rise was machinery and industrial equipment, down $218m (4%), with volumes down 9% and prices up 5%.


Intermediate and Other Merchandise Goods

Imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices fell $1,819m (6%), with volumes down 5% and prices down 1%.

The main components contributing to the fall were:
  • fuels and lubricants, down $1,003m (12%), with volumes down 3% and prices down 10%
  • processed industrial supplies n.e.s., down $411m (5%), with volumes down 7% and prices up 3%
  • iron and steel, down $307m (20%), with volumes down 20%.


Non-monetary Gold

Imports of non-monetary gold, in original and seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, rose $150m (15%), with volumes up 14% and prices up 1%.


SERVICES

The trend estimate of net services at current prices was a deficit of $2,236m, an increase of $78m (4%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit of $2,158m.

In seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, net services was a deficit of $2,105m, a decrease of $203m (9%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit of $2,308m.

SERVICES, Price and volume analysis: Seasonally adjusted - September Quarter 2015

Change in:
Current prices
Current prices
Chain volume measures(a)
Implicit price deflators(a)(b)
$m
%
%
%

Exports
200
1.3
0.9
0.4
Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
3
150.0
150.0
-
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
6
25.0
25.0
-
Transport
-13
-0.8
-2.3
1.6
Travel
195
2.0
1.8
0.2
Other services
9
0.2
-
0.2
Imports
-2
-
-5.2
5.4
Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others
-
-
-
-
Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.
7
8.0
1.1
6.9
Transport
-60
-1.4
-4.7
3.5
Travel
32
0.4
-4.3
5.0
Other services
18
0.3
-6.6
7.3

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Reference year 2013-14.
(b) Movements in indexes are based on data to four decimal places.



Services Credits

Services credits, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, rose $200m (1%) to $16,101m, with volumes up 1%. The main component contributing to the rise was travel, up $195m (2%), with volumes up 2%.

In seasonally adjusted terms, tourism related services credits rose $176m (2%) to $10,462m.


Services Debits

Services debits, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, fell $2m to $18,206m, with volumes down 5% and prices up 5%. The main component contributing to the fall was transport, down $60m (1%) with volumes down 5% and prices up 3%. Passenger transport fell $45m (3%), with volumes down 7% and prices up 5% and freight transport fell $40m (2%), with volumes down 4% and prices up 3%.

Partly offsetting this fall were:
  • travel, up $32m, with volumes down 4% and prices up 5%
  • other services, up $18m, with volumes down 7% and prices up 7%.

In seasonally adjusted terms, tourism related services debits fell $12m to $8,852m.


PRIMARY INCOME

The trend estimate of the net primary income at current prices increased $653m (7%) to $9,629m in the September quarter 2015.

The seasonally adjusted estimate of the net primary income deficit at current prices increased $1,106m (12%) to $10,054m in the September quarter 2015.

NET PRIMARY INCOME
Graph: NET PRIMARY INCOME



Primary Income Credits

Primary income credits, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, fell $344m (3%) to $13,031m. The main component contributing to this fall was direct investment income on equity and investment fund shares, down $424m (8%).


Primary Income Debits

Primary income debits, in seasonally adjusted terms at current prices, rose $761m (3%) to $23,084m. The main components contributing to this movement were portfolio investment interest, up $476m (8%) and portfolio investment income on equity and investment fund shares, up $377m (8%).


SECONDARY INCOME

The trend estimate of the net secondary income deficit at current prices decreased $3m to $607m in the September quarter 2015.

In seasonally adjusted terms, the net secondary income deficit at current prices increased $1m to $613m in the September quarter 2015.


CAPITAL ACCOUNT

In original terms, the capital account deficit was $113m, a decrease of $42m (27%) on the June quarter 2015 deficit of $155m. Capital account credits rose $4m and capital account debits fell $38m (25%) in the September quarter 2015.


FINANCIAL ACCOUNT

The balance on financial account, in original terms, recorded a net inflow of $18.9b, which was driven by a net inflow of equity of $12.7b and a net inflow of debt of $6.2b.

The financial account surplus increased $5.3b to $18.9b in the September quarter 2015, from $13.6b in the June quarter 2015.


Direct Investment

Direct investment recorded a net inflow of $4.5b in the September quarter 2015, a decrease of $0.6b on the inflow of $5.1b in the June quarter 2015, where:
  • direct investment liabilities recorded an inflow of $13.9b, a decrease of $4.0b on the inflow of $17.9b in the June quarter 2015
  • direct investment assets recorded an outflow of $9.4b, a decrease of $3.4b on the outflow of $12.8b in the June quarter 2015.


Portfolio Investment

Portfolio investment recorded a net inflow of $5.7b in the September quarter 2015, a decrease of $12.3b on the inflow of $18.0b in the June quarter 2015, where:
  • equity and investment fund shares recorded a net inflow of $7.7b, an increase of $0.5b on the inflow of $7.3b in the June quarter 2015
  • debt securities recorded a net outflow of $2.0b, a turnaround of $12.8b on the inflow of $10.7b in the June quarter 2015.


Financial Derivatives

Financial derivatives recorded a net inflow of $3.9b in the September quarter 2015, an increase of $1.0b on the inflow of $2.9b in the June quarter 2015.


Other Investment

Other investment recorded a net inflow of $3.6b in the September quarter 2015, a turnaround of $22.8b on the outflow of $19.2b in the June quarter 2015. This was driven by a net inflow in currency and deposits of $12.0b, partly offset by a net outflow in loans of $5.4b and other accounts receivable of $4.0b.


Reserve Assets

Reserve assets recorded an inflow of $1.2b, a decrease of $5.5b on the inflow of $6.7b in the June quarter 2015. This was driven by the RBA’s inflow of debt securities of $2.2b, partly offset by an outflow in currency and deposits of $1.1b.


INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT POSITION (IIP)

Australia's net International Investment Position was a liability of $922.8b at 30 September 2015, an increase of $18.2b (2%) on the 30 June 2015 position of $904.6b. Australia's net foreign debt liabilities increased $25.5b (3%) to a net liability position of $993.8b. Australia's net foreign equity assets increased $7.4b (12%) to a net asset position of $71.0b at 30 September 2015.

The changes contributing to this result are shown in the following table.

INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT POSITION, By Net Foreign Equity and Net Foreign Debt

Changes in position reflecting
Position at beginning of period
Transactions
Price changes
Exchange rate changes
Other adjustments
Position at end of period
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Net International Investment Position

Mar 2015
888 300
15 076
23 017
-15 000
-81
911 312
Jun 2015
911 312
13 568
-20 076
-1 105
922
904 621
Sep 2015
904 621
18 866
32 602
-30 982
-2 336
922 771

Net Foreign Equity

Mar 2015
-57 054
10 539
11 748
-32 565
1 369
-65 961
Jun 2015
-65 961
6 712
-5 027
-649
1 302
-63 623
Sep 2015
-63 623
12 694
38 029
-55 681
-2 409
-70 989

Net Foreign Debt

Mar 2015
945 354
4 537
11 269
17 564
-1 450
977 273
Jun 2015
977 273
6 856
-15 049
-456
-380
968 244
Sep 2015
968 244
6 172
-5 427
24 699
73
993 760




SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

CONDITIONS

The conditions in the global economy showed modest growth for most countries in the September quarter 2015. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)(footnote 2) , preliminary growth rates compared to last quarter in seasonally adjusted terms showed quarterly growth for China (1.8%), South Korea (1.2%), Indonesia (1.2%), UK (0.5%), France (0.3%), Germany (0.3%), Euro area (0.3%) and Netherlands (0.1%). Quarterly growth rates fell for Japan (0.2%) and Greece (0.5%).
  • foreign asset transactions were -$19.8b in the September quarter 2015 compared to $9.3b in the June quarter 2015
  • foreign liability transactions were $38.6b in the September quarter 2015 compared to $4.3b in the June quarter 2015.

The Australian share market, as measured by the MSCI global index(footnote 3) , decreased 10.7% in the September quarter 2015, following a decrease of 7.6% in the June quarter 2015. Decreases were recorded in Hong Kong (17.8%), Singapore (16.6%), Japan (16.5%), Germany (13.0%), Canada (10.4%), UK (9.8%), France (9.1%), USA (9.0%), Switzerland (4.9%) and New Zealand (4.0%). No increases were recorded. A decrease in market price in foreign equity assets of $70.2b was recorded in the September quarter 2015 and a decrease of $32.2b in foreign equity liabilities.

According to Bloomberg(footnote 4), the composite corporate benchmark yield increased in the USA from 3.35% to 3.45%, the UK from 3.15% to 3.16%, Germany from 1.48% to 1.58%, but stayed the same in Japan at 0.34%. In Australia, the rate decreased from 3.57% to 3.45%. The long-term 10 year government bond yields decreased in all major markets: the USA from 2.35% to 2.06%, the UK from 2.01% to 1.76%, Japan from 0.44% to 0.35% and Germany from 0.77% to 0.59%. In Australia, the rate decreased from 2.98% to 2.61%. An increase in market price in portfolio debt securities assets of $0.2b was recorded in the September quarter 2015 and an increase of $2.4b in portfolio debt securities liabilities.

The Australian dollar depreciated against a number of the major currencies in the September quarter 2015. It decreased 10.5% against the Japanese Yen, 9.2% against the European euro, 8.7% against the US dollar and 5.4% against the UK pound sterling and 2.62% against the New Zealand dollar. The Trade Weighted Index (TWI) (footnote 4) (footnote 5) , recorded a fall of 6.1%. An increase in exchange rate in foreign assets of $104.9b was recorded in the September quarter 2015 and an increase of $74.0b in foreign liabilities.


RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IPD, EPI AND IPI(footnote 6)

In original terms, the IPD for total goods credits fell 0.3% and the chain Laspeyres price index for goods exports fell 0.1%. The Export Price Index (EPI)(footnote 7) remained steady at 80.9 during the September quarter 2015.

In original terms, the IPD for total goods debits rose 2.6% and the chain Laspeyres price index for goods imports rose 1.8%. The Import Price Index (IPI) (footnote 7) rose 1.4% during the September quarter 2015.

Differences between the IPD and International Trade Price Indexes can arise due to a number of methodological factors including differences in pricing points, timing, coverage and weights.

GOODS AND SERVICES, Price comparison - September Quarter 2015

Change in:
Seasonally adjusted
Original
Implicit price deflators(a)
Implicit price deflators(a)
International trade price indexes(b)
Chain Laspeyres price indexes(a)
%
%
%
%

Exports
Goods
0.6
-0.3
-
-0.1
Services
0.4
0.4
na
0.3
Imports
Goods
2.3
2.6
1.4
1.8
Services
5.4
5.3
na
5.4

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
na not available
(a) Reference year 2013-14 = 100.
(b) Source: International Trade Price Indexes, Australia (cat. no. 6457.0).

IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATORS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE PRICE INDEXES
Graph: IMPLICIT PRICE DEFLATORS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE PRICE INDEXES



Commodity Price Indexes

The RBA Commodity Price Index (average monthly index) for rural commodities increased 2.2% between the June and September quarter 2015 while the EPI for rural goods increased 5.7%.

The RBA Commodity Price Index for non-rural commodities increased 0.8% while the EPI for non-rural goods total (excluding non-monetary gold) decreased 1.3%.

Differences between the RBA Commodity Price Index and ABS price measures are largely a consequence of methodological differences used in the construction of the respective indexes, including coverage of included commodities and timing of source data.

1 In this commentary movements in indexes are based on data to four decimal places. <back
2 OECD Statistics Quarterly National Account, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development – Economic Department, viewed 18 November 2015. <back
3 MSCI Global Market Indexes 2015, Morgan Stanley Capital International, viewed 8 October 2015. <back
4 Bloomberg, Bloomberg Professional Service, viewed 12 October 2015. <back
5 Exchange Rates – Daily 2015 to Current, Reserve Bank of Australia – Statistical Tables, viewed 2 October 2015. <back
6 In this commentary movements in indexes are based on data to four decimal places. <back
7 Source: International Trade Price Indexes, Australia (cat. no. 6457.0). <back