1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Sep 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/10/2000   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

Feature Article - WA's Merchandise trade with the rest of the world

(This article was published in the September quarter 2000 issue of Western Australian Statistical Indicators (ABS Catalogue Number 1367.5))

INTRODUCTION

Western Australia's continuing strong growth in international merchandise trade is making a significant contribution to the state's buoyant economy. While Western Australia's Gross State Product (GSP) has been growing at an average annual rate of 6% in the nine years to 1998-1999 (the latest data available), the trade surplus (Exports less Imports) has been growing at an average annual rate of 9%. The state's ability to trade successfully with the rest of the world is helping to consolidate Western Australia's position as one of Australia's leading exporting states.


PATTERN OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA'S INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE

Western Australia's goods exports continue to be firmly based on extensive natural resources. In 1999-2000, exports of gold bullion, iron ore, nickel, natural gas and petroleum and petroleum products accounted for 53% of the state's exports to foreign countries.

Over the last ten years, the value of exports has increased by an average of 11% annually, from $10,139 million in 1989-1990 to $25,428 million in 1999-2000. Imports also increased by an average of 11% annually over the same period, from $3,983 million to $9,518 million. The trade surplus in 1999-2000 was $15,910 million. Since the 1950's, Western Australia has enjoyed a trade surplus. This contrasts markedly with the national position, where Australia's merchandise trade has been in deficit for the last six financial years, the highest deficit over this period of $12,898 million being recorded in 1999-2000.

Western Australia's international merchandise trade, imports and exports


Western Australian exports have risen significantly in two of the last three financial years - up 18% in 1997-1998 and 17% in 1999-2000. In the intervening year, exports fell by 4%, reflecting the impact of the Asian financial crisis on key Asian export markets as well as interruptions and disruption in the supply of some commodities.

The significance of Western Australia's continuing growth in international merchandise trade is reflected in increases in the contribution its exports make to Australia's exports and to the states' economic growth:
    • Since 1989-1990, Western Australia has been Australia's major exporting state, accounting for a quarter of Australia's total exports. By contrast, the state's merchandise imports have averaged 8% of the value of Australia's imports over the same period; and
    • In 1989-1990, Western Australia's exports comprised 27% of GSP. By 1998-1999, the proportion was 35%, down on the 37% recorded in 1997-1998. By comparison, Australia's exports were 19% of gross domestic product in 1998-1999, increasing only marginally from 16% in 1989-1990.
Contribution of WA exports to gross state product

EXPORTS


MAJOR COMMODITIES

Western Australia's position as Australia's major exporting state is based on exports of goods classified to four of the ten main commodity groups:
    • Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (Petroleum and petroleum products and Natural gas): comprising 24% of the value of Western Australia's exports in 1999-2000;
    • Crude materials, inedible, except fuels (mainly Iron ore and Textile fibres): 21%;
    • Commodities and transactions not elsewhere classified, which includes Combined confidential items (including Alumina, mineral sands and some agricultural products): 19%; and Non-monetary gold: 12%; and
    • Food and live animals (mainly Wheat and Fish and crustaceans): 12%.

These groups contributed 88% of the state's export income in 1999-2000.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS - SELECTED COMMODITIES, By Value of Trade

1989-1990
1999-2000
Commodity
$m
% of total
$m
% of total

Food and live animals(a)
1,646
16.2
2,970
11.7
    Cereals and cereal preparations
1,010
1,642
    Fish (not marine mammals), crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic
      invertebrates, and preparations thereof
226
526
    Live animals other than fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic
      invertebrates
68
299
Beverages and tobacco
2
0.0
19
0.1
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels(a)
3,412
33.7
5,430
21.4
    Metalliferous ores and metal scrap
2,407
4,426
    Textile fibres and their wastes
772
469
    Oil seeds and oleaginous fruits
-
294
Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials(a)
938
9.3
6,111
24.0
    Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials
600
3,746
    Gas, natural and manufactured
338
2,365
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
13
0.1
20
0.1
Chemical and related products(a)
272
2.7
790
3.1
    Dyeing, tanning and colouring materials
178
407
    Inorganic chemicals
87
209
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material(a)
127
1.3
1,509
5.9
    Non-ferrous metals
14
1,109
    Non-metallic mineral manufactures, n.e.s.
86
224
Machinery and transport equipment(a)
146
1.4
626
2.5
    Transport equipment (excl. road vehicles).
62
222
Miscellaneous manufactured articles n.e.s.
31
0.3
77
0.3
Commodities and transactions n.e.c.(a)
3,549
35.0
7,876
31.0
    Combined confidential items
2,904
4,768
    Gold, non-monetary (excl. gold ores and concentrates)
332
3,008
Total Exports
10,139
100.0
25,428
100.0

(a) The sum of the components may not add to totals as some commodities are not listed in the breakdown.
Source: ABS FASTTRACCS Service, July 2000.


In the ten years to 1999-2000, the value of exports increased by $15,289 million. Commodity exports which increased significantly in value during this period were Petroleum and petroleum products, contributing $3,146 million of the increase in the value of exports; Non-monetary gold, contributing $2,676 million; and Natural and manufactured gas, contributing $2,026 million.

Other commodities to record significant export growth were Non-ferrous metals - from $14 million in 1989-1990 to $1,109 million in 1999-2000 (of which nickel accounted for $1,029 million); Live animal exports - from $68 million to $299 million; Oil seeds (Canola) - from an insignificant amount to $294 million; and Transport equipment (excluding road vehicles), around 95% comprising ships and boats, which increased in value from $62 million to $222 million.

Another view of Western Australian exports is provided by the ABS' Manufacturing Industry Survey. In 1997-1998 (the latest data available), Western Australian manufacturers directly exported 24% of the goods that they produced. This compares with 20% in 1994-1995 when this information was first collected. In 1997-1998, manufacturers exports were valued at $3,923 million, of which Metal product manufacturers contributed $2,039 million (or 52%).


MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS

Western Australia's top export markets (those with a value of export trade over $1,000 million) accounted for 68% of exports in 1999-2000. Japan continues to be the state's major export partner with exports in 1999-2000 worth $6,580 million (or 26% of export trade).

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS - MAJOR DESTINATIONS, By Value of Trade(a)(b)

1989-1990
1999-2000
$m
% of total
$m
% of total

COUNTRIES
Japan
2,751
27.1
6,580
25.9
Republic of Korea
478
4.7
2,318
9.1
United States of America
1,699
16.8
2,287
9.0
Singapore
473
4.7
1,905
7.5
China
501
4.9
1,867
7.3
Taiwan
280
2.8
1,351
5.3
United Kingdom
232
2.3
1,065
4.2
Total Exports
10,139
100.0
25,428
100.0

COUNTRY GROUPS(c)
Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
7,045
69.5
19,042
74.9
Developing Countries
3,560
35.1
11,413
44.9
European Union
1,385
13.7
3,502
13.8
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
983
9.7
3,414
13.4

(a) The sum of the components do not add to totals as all countries are not listed in the breakdown.
(b) Excludes data subject to confidentiality restrictions.
(c) A country may belong to more than one country group e.g China is included in APEC and Developing Countries.
A list of component countries is published in International Merchandise Trade, Australia (cat.no.5422.0).
Source: ABS FASTTRACCS Service, July 2000.

Since 1989-1990, the United States of America moved from being the state's second largest export destination in dollar terms (with 17% of exports) to our third largest destination in 1999-2000 (with 9% of exports). While exports to the United States have increased by a significant $588 million over that ten year period, there has been a stronger rate of growth in exports to South East Asian and North Asian countries. The Republic of Korea led the way, with exports to that country increasing five times to be worth $2,318 million in 1999-2000 making it Western Australia's second largest export destination. Korea, together with Singapore (which increased four times to $1,905 million), China (increasing almost four times to $1,867 million) and Taiwan (increasing almost five times to $1,351 million) accounted for 29% of the state's export market in 1999-2000, up from 17% of the market ten years ago.

Of the selected country groups with which Western Australia trades, exports to ASEAN (up an average annual increase of 16%) and to Developing Countries (up an average annual increase of 13%) recorded the greatest increases in the ten years to 1999-2000. For our ASEAN neighbours, Singapore continues to dominate exports (56% of total state exports to ASEAN in 1999-2000) while strong growth was recorded for Thailand (from $30 million in 1989-1990 to $333 million in 1999-2000), the Philippines (from $48 million to $201 million) and Viet Nam ($516 thousand to $57 million).


SELECTED EXPORT COMMODITIES AND THEIR DESTINATIONS

A significant proportion of Western Australia's commodity exports are, for data confidentiality reasons, unable to be published according to their country of destination. Commodities subject to restrictions include Natural gas, Wheat, Nickel and Alumina.

The more significant commodities exported in 1999-2000, not subject to confidentiality restrictions, were:
    • Iron ore and concentrates (15% of state exports). Japan dominated the market, accounting for 46% of total Iron ore exports. China ranked second, receiving just under a quarter (23%) of exports. Iron ore exports to China in 1999-2000 represented 46% of the state's exports to that country;
    • Petroleum and petroleum products (15% of state exports). The Republic of Korea has risen steadily to become the state's top Petroleum export destination in 1999-2000 ($756 million), just ahead of the United States of America ($734 million); and
    • Non-monetary gold (12% of state exports). Singapore received 38% of Western Australia's Non-monetary gold exports in 1999-2000. At $1,150 million, this represents 60% of the state's exports to Singapore.


WESTERN AUSTRALIAN EXPORTS: SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES AND MAJOR DESTINATIONS, By Value of Trade(a)(b), 1999-2000

Commodity and destination
$m
Commodity and destination
$m

Iron ore and concentrates
3,769
Natural gas
1,949
Japan
1,730
    No country details
China
850
Republic of Korea
495
Wheat (incl. spelt) and meslin, unmilled
1,568
Taiwan
263
    No country details
United Kingdom
115
France
100
Nickel
1,029
    No country details
Petroleum and petroleum products
3,746
Republic of Korea
756
Fish and crustaceans
526
United States of America
734
    Japan
194
Japan
678
    Taiwan
132
Taiwan
502
    United States of America
84
Singapore
484
    Hong Kong (SAR of China)
70
New Zealand
260
    Singapore
17
Non-monetary gold
3,008
Wool
468
Singapore
1,150
    China
161
United Kingdom
501
    Italy
80
Republic of Korea
429
    France
58
Japan
283
    India
42
Thailand
137
    Germany
33
Switzerland
107

(a) The sum of the components may not add to the totals as some countries are not listed in the commodity breakdown.
(b) Excludes data subject to confidentiality restrictions.
Source: ABS FASTTRACCS Service, July 2000.


Japan and China are also important markets for a number of other commodity exports. In 1999-2000, Japan received $320 million of Liquified Petroleum Gas, and $194 million (or 37%) of Fish and crustaceans exports. China accounted for $161 million (34%) of the state's wool exports and $160 million (54%) of the growing Canola exports.


IMPORTS

While strong world demand for Western Australia's rich resources has positioned the state as Australia's leading exporter, demand for merchandise imports is driven more by the need to sustain the state's industry and population. As such, Western Australia ranked fourth (after the larger eastern states) in terms of its contribution to the value of Australia's imports (9% in 1999-2000).


MAJOR COMMODITIES

Of all Western Australian imports, 70% of the total value in 1999-2000 related to three commodity groups:
    • Machinery and transport equipment: accounting for 38% of Western Australia's imports. In the main, this group comprised Road vehicles ($1,053 million); Machinery specialised for particular industries ($661 million); and Office machines and computing equipment ($613 million);
    • Non-monetary gold: 19% of the state's imports;and
    • Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials: 13% of the state's imports and comprised almost entirely of imports of Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials worth $1,282 million.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS: SELECTED COMMODITIES, By Value of Trade

1989-1990
1999-2000
Commodity
$m
% of total
$m
% of total

Food and live animals
98
2.5
184
1.9
Beverages and tobacco
16
0.4
29
0.3
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
110
2.8
81
0.8
Mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials(a)
670
16.8
1,282
13.5
Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials
669
1,282
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
10
0.2
16
0.2
Chemicals and related products(a)
294
7.4
795
8.4
    Organic chemicals
46
288
    Fertilisers (excl. crude)
72
214
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
592
14.9
1,016
10.7
Machinery and transport equipment(a)
1,671
41.9
3,635
38.2
    Road vehicles (incl. air-cushion vehicles)
399
1,053
    Machinery specialised for particular industries
371
661
    Office machines and computing equipment
51
613
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
267
6.7
488
5.1
Commodities and transactions n.e.c.(a)
255
6.4
1,992
20.9
    Gold, non-monetary (excl. gold ores and concentrates)
1
1,781
    Combined confidential items
219
199
Total Imports
3,983
100.0
9,518
100.0

(a) The sum of the components may not add to totals as some commodities are not listed in the breakdown.
Source: ABS FASTTRACCS Service, July 2000.

Non-monetary gold imports have been the major growth commodity, increasing substantially from negligible value ten years ago to be worth $1,781 million in 1999-2000. The next highest valued import was Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials which contributed 13% of total imports.

Other imported commodities to have increased significantly in value over the last ten years have been Office machines and computing equipment, increasing twelve times to $613 million in 1999-2000 and Organic chemicals, increasing over six times to $288 million.


MAJOR IMPORT MARKETS

The United States of America and Japan have traditionally vied as Western Australia's major source of imports. In 1999-2000, the United States of America was the state's main supplier with 17% ($1,587 million) of imports followed by Japan with 10% ($985 million).The Republic of Korea was the state's third largest source of imported commodities, having increased markedly from supplying 2% of state imports ten years ago to 9% in 1999-2000.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS: MAJOR SOURCES, By Value of Trade(a)(b)

1989-1990
1999-2000
$m
% of total
$m
% of total

COUNTRIES
United States of America
639
16.0
1,587
16.7
Japan
798
20.0
985
10.3
Republic of Korea
68
1.7
858
9.0
Singapore
145
3.6
628
6.6
Indonesia
131
3.3
496
5.2
United Kingdom
259
6.5
470
4.9
Viet Nam
2
0.1
424
4.4
Total Imports
3,983
100.0
9,518
100.0

COUNTRY GROUPS(c)
Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
2,307
57.9
6,779
71.2
Developing Countries
1,288
32.3
4,165
43.8
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
375
9.4
2,039
21.4
European Union
891
22.4
1,681
17.7

(a) The sum of the components do not add to totals as all countries are not listed in the breakdown.
(b) Excludes data subject to confidentiality restrictions.
(c) A country may belong to more than one country group e.g. Republic of Korea is included in APEC and Developing Countries.
A list of component countries is published in International Merchandise Trade, Australia (cat.no.5422.0).
Source: ABS FASTTRACCS Service, July 2000.

The majority of Western Australia's goods imports are sourced from APEC and European Union countries. Countries comprising our nearest neighbour ASEAN have, in the main, significantly increased their contribution to state imports, particularly Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. As a result, the value of goods imported from ASEAN in 1999-2000 accounted for 21% of the state's import trade compared with 9% ten years ago.

SELECTED IMPORT COMMODITIES AND THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

The Republic of Korea and Viet Nam were the main contributors to Western Australia's top commodity imports (Non-monetary gold and Crude petroleum) in 1999-2000:
    • Non-monetary gold (19% of state imports). The Republic of Korea provided 35% of Non-monetary gold imports. Of total imports sourced from Korea, Non-monetary gold accounted for 73%; and
    • Crude petroleum (11% of state imports). Viet Nam has risen markedly over the last ten years to become the state's main supplier (40%) of this commodity.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN IMPORTS: SELECTED MAJOR COMMODITIES AND MAJOR COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN, By Value of Trade(a)(b), 1999-2000

Commodity and country of origin
$m
Commodity and country of origin
$m

Non-monetary gold
1,781
Automatic data processing machines (mainly computers)
401
    Republic of Korea
625
    Singapore
239
    United States of America
478
    Malaysia
66
    Indonesia
215
    New Zealand
160
Motor vehicles for transporting goods (including off-road vehicles)
318
    Japan
125
Crude petroleum
1,009
    United States of America
98
    Viet Nam
409
    Thailand
52
    Indonesia
186
    United Arab Emirates
155
Aircraft and associated equipment
317
    Malaysia
93
    Canada
234
    United States of America
40
Private motor vehicles
606
    Japan
377
    Republic of Korea
78
    Germany
48

(a) The sum of the components may not add to the totals as some countries are not listed in the commodity breakdown.
(b) Excludes data subject to confidentiality restrictions.
Source: ABS FASTTRACCS Service, July 2000.


Japan's dominance as a supplier of motor vehicle imports continued in 1999-2000, with 62% of Private motor vehicles and 39% of Motor vehicles for transporting goods (including off-road vehicles). Singapore was the leading supplier (38%) of the high growth import commodity Automatic data processing machines (mainly computers).


REFERENCES

ABS FASTTRACCS Service. An ABS special data service providing customised international merchandise trade statistics.

International Merchandise Trade, Australia (cat.no.5422.0).

Australian National Accounts: Quarterly State Details (cat.no.5204.0.40.001)- an ABS special data service.

Australian System of National Accounts (cat.no.5204.0).

Manufacturing Industry, WA (cat.no.8221.5).


PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION OF "WA'S MERCHANDISE TRADE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD"


Download this entire document
in Acrobat format

If you do not have reader software...
MerchTrade_Final.pdf
(188Kb)