5368.0 - International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia, Oct 2010 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 02/12/2010   
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COMMODITY PRICES ADJUSTMENT


PRICES ADJUSTMENT

International merchandise trade exports data (on a recorded trade basis) presented in tables 12-15 of this publication are based on information provided by exporters to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs and Border Protection). At the time of initial reporting to Customs and Border Protection the final prices may not be known for some commodities. New contract prices that have been recently negotiated, or are still being negotiated, for commodities like iron ore and coal may not be fully reflected in the Customs and Border Protection source data. Final prices are updated progressively in recorded trade data as exporters revise the information provided to Customs and Border Protection.

A $250m adjustment has been made to the value of 'metal ores and minerals' in the balance of payments series for October 2010 to take into account additional information on the unit price of iron ore exports. No adjustment has been applied to the 'coal, coke and briquettes' component.

In the revised unadjusted recorded trade series, the unit price of metal ores and minerals decreased 13% between September and October 2010. In the equivalent adjusted balance of payments series, the unit price of metal ores and minerals decreased 8%.

The $475m adjustment made to the value of 'metal ores and minerals' for September 2010 remains in balance of payments figures as revised merchandise trade data have not yet been incorporated in the balance of payments series for this month.