5439.0 - International Merchandise Imports, Australia, Aug 2008  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 17/09/2008   
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AUGUST KEY FIGURES

June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
$m
$m
$m

Food and live animals
592
667
634
Beverages and tobacco
112
116
123
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
194
277
268
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
2 914
3 714
2 831
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
26
47
57
Chemicals and related products, nes
1 829
1 964
1 980
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
1 879
2 028
2 051
Machinery and transport equipment
7 934
7 557
7 434
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
1 985
2 266
2 265
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC
654
966
812
TOTAL
18 119
19 603
18 455





AUGUST KEY POINTS


ORIGINAL ESTIMATES
  • In original terms, the August 2008 merchandise imports were $18,455m, a decrease of $1,148m (6%) on the revised July 2008 merchandise imports of $19,603m.


PRELIMINARY BALANCE OF PAYMENTS GOODS IMPORTS
  • Preliminary analysis shows that goods imports (debits) on a balance of payments basis decreased by $564m (3%) in seasonally adjusted terms between July and August 2008. Intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $623m (7%) with fuels and lubricants down $887m (25%). Other goods fell $125m (11%) with goods for processing down $158m and Consumption goods fell $52m (1%). Capital goods rose $238m (6%) with civil aircraft up $202m.


NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE Release Date
September 2008 20 October 2008
October 2008 18 November 2008
November 2008 17 December 2008
December 2008 19 January 2009
January 2009 18 February 2009
February 2009 19 March 2009



INTRODUCTION

This publication presents statistics of Australia's merchandise imports classified according to the broadest level (1 digit sections) of the United Nations Standard International Trade Classification. The data are compiled from information submitted by importers or their agents to the Australian Customs Service. For more details see International Merchandise Trade, Australia: Concepts, Sources and Methods (cat. no. 5489.0) on the ABS web site. More detailed merchandise imports data are available on the ABS web site www.abs.gov.au from the Downloads tab of this issue or by contacting the National Information and Referral Service.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Selvi Sekhar on Canberra (02) 6252 5540.