4156.0 - Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2011  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/07/2011   
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Contents >> Products >> Supply and demand for sport and physical recreation products >> International trade in sport and physical recreation goods

INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SPORT AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS

International trade statistics are compiled from information supplied to Customs by exporters and importers or their agents. There are 3 million export transactions and 13 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 sport and physical recreation goods 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 sport and physical recreation goods 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 where 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 goods part of the ACLC Product Classification and hence is excluded from data concerning international trade in sport and physical recreation goods.

Australia's trade in selected sport and physical recreation goods is in deficit. Imports of these goods during 2009-10 were valued at $1,895.1m. This is over four times the $403.5m in sport and physical recreation goods which were exported during that year.


Exports of sport and physical recreation goods

Sport and physical recreation goods exported from Australia during 2009-10 were valued at $403.5m, decreasing 13% from the $463.4m recorded for 2008-09.

Since 2003-04, boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports and horses have been the two main categories of goods contributing to the total value of sport and physical recreation goods exported. In 2009-10 these two categories made up almost 70% of the total value of exported sport and physical recreation goods.

For boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports, the value (in current prices) has decreased from $267.7m in 2007-08 to $140.8m in 2009-10. The value of exports of horses decreased from $152.5m in 2008-09 to $130.2m in 2009-10.

Other goods categories which have made substantial contributions to total exports since 2003-04 are water skis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment, contributing $14.0m to the total value of exports of sport and physical recreation goods in 2009-10 and spark-ignition marine outboard motors with a value of $17.1m in 2009-10.

Interestingly, the value of exported golf clubs and other golf equipment has nearly halved since 2003-04 from $18.0m to $9.7m in 2009-10. The value of exported sport or physical recreation footwear has remained about the same, with a value of around $8.0m.

12.1 Exports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), Current prices - 2003-04 to 2009-10

2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports
r115.1
199.9
230.3
232.6
r267.7
181.0
140.8
Horses
117.1
101.9
114.4
141.8
88.7
152.5
130.2
Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation; swimming pools and paddling pools
19.9
22.4
22.2
25.2
25.3
21.5
22.0
Spark-ignition marine outboard motors
14.0
15.3
17.2
11.7
17.5
16.3
17.1
Waterskis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment
19.6
21.2
21.7
21.8
15.6
14.3
14.0
Swimwear for women and girls
9.7
12.9
10.6
11.7
12.2
13.1
12.1
Golf clubs and other golf equipment
18.0
7.7
12.1
11.4
11.1
9.1
9.7
Sports or physical recreation footwear
7.7
6.0
8.3
5.8
6.2
10.1
7.8
Total(b)
r373.5
436.6
483.2
r510.9
r489.1
r463.4
403.5

r revised
(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.
(b) Total includes exports of all sport and physical recreation goods.
Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia.



Destination of exports

Throughout the period 2003-04 to 2008-09 New Zealand and the United States of America (USA) were the two main destinations for sport and physical recreation goods exported from Australia. For 2008-09, the value of exports to New Zealand was $108.9m, and the value of goods exported to the USA was $63.1m.

In 2009-10, the value of exports to New Zealand was still high at $111.9m, however, the value of goods exported to Hong Kong (SAR of China) was higher than the value of exports to the USA ($37.9m compared with $34.0m).

12.2 Exports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), Current prices - By destination - 2003-04 to 2009-10

2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

New Zealand
r94.0
108.8
126.9
r138.6
r100.6
108.9
111.9
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
34.9
29.2
35.3
39.0
r33.7
49.1
37.9
United States of America
63.2
95.4
105.4
r95.8
r117.7
63.1
34.0
United Arab Emirates
4.7
7.5
9.0
12.2
r9.4
15.4
24.7
Singapore
9.7
7.9
12.8
r24.6
r16.4
20.1
17.4
South Africa
4.8
8.8
14.0
20.2
r11.2
16.5
12.8
Italy
10.1
22.6
23.0
19.7
29.4
24.2
12.2
Papua New Guinea
r4.7
5.0
6.4
4.5
r11.8
12.1
11.8
United Kingdom
37.3
14.1
14.0
r24.4
r18.2
17.9
11.3
Japan
14.7
17.8
16.8
r19.7
r10.2
12.3
9.3
Other Countries
r95.4
r119.5
r119.8
r112.3
r130.4
r123.9
120.1
Total
r373.5
r436.6
r483.2
r510.9
r489.1
r463.4
403.5

r revised
(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.
Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia.


The value of exports to the United Kingdom has decreased in recent years from $37.3m in 2003-04 to $11.3m in 2009-10. Since 2003-04, exports to Singapore have increased from $9.7m to $17.4m in 2009-10. Similarly, the value of exports to the United Arab Emirates has also increased from $4.7m to $24.7m.

These fluctuations in the value of exports of sport 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.


Imports of sport and physical recreation goods

The value (in current prices) of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia during 2009-10 was $1,895.1m. This was 8.1% lower than the $2,063.0m recorded in 2008-09.

12.3 Imports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a), Current prices - 2003-04 to 2009-10

2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports
222.8
373.0
474.2
521.2
591.5
447.6
392.1
General physical exercise, gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment
110.4
154.5
202.8
240.4
226.7
247.0
221.2
Bicycles and other cycles, not motorised
111.9
150.4
163.5
174.8
174.4
239.8
199.4
Sports or physical recreation footwear
147.9
160.0
156.6
175.8
142.3
161.5
150.3
Spark-ignition marine outboard motors
172.4
182.3
208.1
186.2
169.8
137.5
143.5
Articles and equipment for sports or outdoor games nes; swimming pools and paddling pools
64.8
74.4
85.1
109.7
100.6
127.8
124.9
Horses
66.2
84.2
108.2
130.2
128.8
101.5
98.1
Golf clubs and other golf equipment
83.9
92.1
90.6
90.9
85.5
92.7
83.0
Total(b)
1 318.3
1 663.5
1 924.8
2 097.5
2 086.1
2 063.0
1 895.1

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.
(b) Total includes imports of all sport and physical recreation goods.
Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia.


Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports ($392.1m) and general physical exercise, gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment ($221.2m) were the product categories which contributed most to the value of imports of sport and physical recreation goods in 2009-10. These two categories were also the top two in terms of value of goods imported for the previous three years. Other categories in the top five for 2009-10 were bicycles and other cycles, not motorised ($199.4m); sports or physical recreation footwear ($150.3m) and spark-ignition marine outboard motors ($143.5m). Together, these five sport and physical recreation product categories accounted for 58% ($1,106.5m) of total imports of sport and physical recreation goods in 2009-10.


Origin of imports

Throughout the period 2003-04 to 2009-10, China and the USA have been the major sources of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia. In 2009-10, the combined value of imports from these two countries amounted to $1,055.8m, which was over half the total value of all imported sport and physical recreation goods in this period. China was the largest contributor to this figure with total imports worth $721.3m. The USA contributed $334.5m which was more than double the $158.0m worth of goods imported from Taiwan, which was the next placed contributor to the overall value of sport and physical recreation goods imported into Australia in 2009-10.

Along with China, the USA and Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have been the top six sources of imported sport and physical recreation goods in Australia since 2003-04.

12.4 Imports of selected sport and physical recreation goods(a)(b), Current prices - By country of origin - 2003-04 to 2009-10

2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

China
406.4
501.6
583.3
704.6
684.5
793.2
721.3
United States of America
273.5
380.7
471.2
421.6
415.0
368.2
334.5
Taiwan
95.8
136.0
156.4
168.9
155.1
211.6
158.0
Japan
129.0
145.5
161.5
133.0
145.0
103.8
110.4
New Zealand
81.2
100.3
98.3
115.0
119.8
99.4
101.8
United Kingdom
65.1
78.3
102.5
126.3
130.3
92.1
76.8
Italy
26.9
29.6
36.6
52.7
59.2
30.1
52.1
France
28.0
34.6
34.4
47.8
59.5
35.4
39.9
Canada
17.6
22.6
29.4
50.6
40.0
34.0
33.1
Viet Nam
20.2
25.6
24.8
31.9
26.6
30.5
32.4
India
26.2
28.5
28.8
34.7
29.8
29.6
29.9
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
15.4
18.5
19.9
20.6
19.1
31.2
20.0
Total(c)
1 318.3
1 663.5
1 924.8
2 097.5
2 086.1
2 063.0
1 895.1

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.
(b) Revised data.
(c) Total includes imports of all sport and physical recreation goods.
Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia.


In 2009-10 the value of imported sport and physical recreation goods from China fell by 9.1% from $793.2m in 2008-09 to $721.3m, although this amount is still nearly double the value of goods imported from China in 2003-04 ($406.4m). The value of imports from Japan increased by 6.3% from $103.8m in 2008-09 to $110.4m in 2009-10. The largest increase, of 73%, was in the value of imports from Italy from $30.1m in 2008-09 to $52.1m in 2009-10. Since 2003-04, the value of imports from Canada has nearly doubled (from $17.6m to $33.1m in 2009-10).


Balance of trade in sporting and physical recreation goods

The countries shown in Graph 12.5 were Australia's major trading partners in sport and physical recreation goods for 2009-10. 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 2009-10 for sport and physical recreation goods. The largest trade deficit was with China ($716.9m), followed by the USA ($300.5m), Taiwan ($156.9m) and Japan ($101.1m). 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 ($10.1m).

12.5 Balance of trade in selected sport and physical recreation goods - 2009-10
Graph: 12.5 Balance of trade in selected sport and physical recreation goods—2009–10








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