ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS
BALANCE ON GOODS AND SERVICES
In trend terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $3,600m in February 2016, a decrease of $14m on the deficit in January 2016.
In seasonally adjusted terms, the balance on goods and services was a deficit of $3,410m in February 2016, an increase of $254m (8%) on the deficit in January 2016.
GOODS AND SERVICES SUMMARY(a), Seasonally Adjusted and Trend |
|
 | | | | | | | Change in: |
| | | | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 |
| | | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| BALANCE on goods and services | -3 956 | -3 156 | -3 410 | -254 | -8 |
| CREDITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | 25 117 | 25 573 | 25 265 | -308 | -1 |
| | Total goods | 19 125 | 19 538 | 19 280 | -258 | -1 |
| | | Rural goods(b) | 3 731 | 3 662 | 3 462 | -200 | -5 |
| | | Non-rural goods(b) | 14 105 | 14 415 | 14 647 | 232 | 2 |
| | | Net exports of goods under merchanting(c) | 43 | 40 | 40 | - | - |
| | | Non-monetary gold(c) | 1 246 | 1 420 | 1 130 | -290 | -20 |
| | Total services | 5 991 | 6 035 | 5 985 | -50 | -1 |
| DEBITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | -29 072 | -28 729 | -28 675 | -54 | - |
| | Total goods | -22 342 | -22 101 | -22 149 | 48 | - |
| | | Consumption goods | -7 940 | -7 900 | -8 172 | 272 | 3 |
| | | Capital goods | -5 276 | -5 140 | -5 163 | 23 | - |
| | | Intermediate and other merchandise goods | -8 741 | -8 712 | -8 443 | -269 | -3 |
| | | Non-monetary gold(c) | -386 | -349 | -372 | 23 | 7 |
| | Total services | -6 730 | -6 628 | -6 526 | -102 | -2 |
Trend(d) |
|
| BALANCE on goods and services | -3 571 | -3 614 | -3 600 | 14 | - |
| CREDITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | 25 698 | 25 395 | 25 158 | -237 | -1 |
| | Total goods | 19 801 | 19 421 | 19 120 | -301 | -2 |
| | | Rural goods(b) | 3 626 | 3 600 | 3 572 | -28 | -1 |
| | | Non-rural goods(b) | 14 850 | 14 539 | 14 280 | -259 | -2 |
| | | Net exports of goods under merchanting | 42 | 42 | 43 | 1 | 2 |
| | | Non-monetary gold | 1 283 | 1 240 | 1 224 | -16 | -1 |
| | Total services | 5 897 | 5 974 | 6 038 | 64 | 1 |
| DEBITS | | | | | |
| Total goods and services | -29 269 | -29 009 | -28 758 | -251 | -1 |
| | Total goods | -22 662 | -22 385 | -22 125 | -260 | -1 |
| | | Consumption goods | -8 017 | -8 006 | -7 997 | -9 | - |
| | | Capital goods | -5 388 | -5 261 | -5 172 | -89 | -2 |
| | | Intermediate and other merchandise goods | -8 885 | -8 756 | -8 606 | -150 | -2 |
| | | Non-monetary gold | -372 | -361 | -350 | -11 | -3 |
| | Total services | -6 607 | -6 624 | -6 633 | 9 | - |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For sign conventions, see paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes. |
| (b) For all time periods, estimates for sugar, sugar preparations and honey are included in Non-rural goods. |
| (c) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (d) Caution should be used when interpreting recent trend estimates as they may be affected by unusual economic factors. For more details on trend estimates, see paragraph 19 of the Explanatory Notes. |
EXPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
Between January and February 2016, the trend estimate of goods and services credits fell $237m (1%) to $25,158m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services credits fell $308m (1%) to $25,265m. Non-monetary gold fell $290m (20%) and rural goods fell $200m (5%). Non-rural goods rose $232m (2%). Net exports of goods under merchanting remained steady at $40m. Services credits fell $50m (1%).
Exports of goods
GOODS CREDITS
GOODS CREDITS, Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | | Change in: |
| | | | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 |
| | | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
|
| Total goods credits | 19 125 | 19 538 | 19 280 | -258 | -1 |
| General merchandise | 17 836 | 18 078 | 18 110 | 32 | - |
| | Rural goods | 3 731 | 3 662 | 3 462 | -200 | -5 |
| | | Meat and meat preparations | 1 021 | 1 012 | 975 | -37 | -4 |
| | | Cereal grains and cereal preparations | 782 | 672 | 595 | -77 | -11 |
| | | Wool and sheepskins | 273 | 277 | 277 | - | - |
| | | Other rural(a) | 1 655 | 1 701 | 1 616 | -85 | -5 |
| | Non-rural goods | 14 105 | 14 415 | 14 647 | 232 | 2 |
| | | Metal ores and minerals | 4 904 | 4 850 | 5 236 | 386 | 8 |
| | | Coal, coke and briquettes(b) | 2 553 | 2 818 | 2 605 | -213 | -8 |
| | | Other mineral fuels(c) | 1 959 | 2 032 | 1 946 | -86 | -4 |
| | | Metals (excl. non-monetary gold) | 934 | 747 | 869 | 122 | 16 |
| | | Machinery | 873 | 919 | 881 | -38 | -4 |
| | | Transport equipment | 441 | 439 | 478 | 39 | 9 |
| | | Other manufactures | 1 476 | 1 695 | 1 582 | -113 | -7 |
| | | Other non-rural (incl. sugar and beverages)(a) | 844 | 797 | 935 | 138 | 17 |
| | | Goods procured in ports by carriers(c) | 121 | 118 | 115 | -3 | -3 |
| Net exports of goods under merchanting(d) | 43 | 40 | 40 | - | - |
| Non-monetary gold(d) | 1 246 | 1 420 | 1 130 | -290 | -20 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For all time periods, estimates for sugar, sugar preparations and honey are included in Other non-rural. |
| (b) From July 1971 to June 2005, only a length-of-month adjustment has been applied to this component. From July 2005, this component is seasonally adjusted using seasonal factors derived from a monthly volume series. |
| (c) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (d) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
RURAL GOODS
In trend terms, exports of rural goods fell $28m (1%) to $3,572m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of rural goods fell $200m (5%) to $3,462m.
The main components contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- other rural, down $85m (5%)
- cereal grains and cereal preparations, down $77m (11%)
- meat and meat preparations, down $37m (4%).
NON-RURAL GOODS
In trend terms, exports of non-rural goods fell $259m (2%) to $14,280m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, exports of non-rural goods rose $232m (2%) to $14,647m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- metal ores and minerals, up $386m (8%)
- other non-rural (incl. sugar and beverages), up $138m (17%)
- metals (excl. non-monetary gold), up $122m (16%).
Partly offsetting these rises were:
- coal, coke and briquettes, down $213m (8%)
- other manufactures, down $113m (7%).
For price and volume details, see the
Selected commodities section.
NET EXPORTS OF GOODS UNDER MERCHANTING
In trend terms, net exports of goods under merchanting rose $1m (2%) to $43m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, net exports of goods under merchanting remained steady at $40m.
NON-MONETARY GOLD
In trend terms, exports of non-monetary gold fell $16m (1%) to $1,224m.
In original and seasonally adjusted terms, exports of non-monetary gold fell $290m (20%) to $1,130m.
Exports of services
SERVICES CREDITS
SERVICES CREDITS, Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | Change in: |
| | | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 |
| | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| Total services credits | 5 991 | 6 035 | 5 985 | -50 | -1 |
| Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others(a) | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - |
| Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.(a) | 8 | 3 | 3 | - | - |
| Transport | 587 | 585 | 585 | - | - |
| | Passenger(b) | 243 | 242 | 242 | - | - |
| | Freight(c) | 28 | 26 | 26 | - | - |
| | Other | 221 | 226 | 226 | - | - |
| | Postal and courier services(d) | 95 | 91 | 90 | -1 | -1 |
| Travel | 3 624 | 3 631 | 3 571 | -60 | -2 |
| Other services | 1 770 | 1 815 | 1 825 | 10 | 1 |
| Memorandum item | | | | | |
| Tourism related service credits(e) | 3 868 | 3 873 | 3 813 | -60 | -2 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (b) Passenger services includes agency fees and commissions for air transport. |
| (c) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (d) Postal and courier services includes indirect commissions for sea transport. |
| (e) For a more detailed explanation of tourism related services, see paragraph 29 of the Explanatory Notes. |
In trend terms, service credits rose $64m (1%) to $6,038m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, services credits fell $50m (1%) to $5,985m.
The main component contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates was travel, down $60m (2%).
In seasonally adjusted terms, tourism related service credits fell $60m (2%) to $3,813m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, total services credits contributed 24% of total goods and services exported.
IMPORTS OF GOODS AND SERVICES
Between January 2016 and February 2016, the trend estimate of goods and services debits fell $251m (1%) to $28,758m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, goods and services debits fell $54m to $28,675m. Intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $269m (3%). Consumption goods rose $272m (3%), non-monetary gold rose $23m (7%) and capital goods rose $23m. Services debits fell $102m (2%).
Imports of goods
GOODS DEBITS
GOODS DEBITS(a), Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | | Change in: |
| | | | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 |
| | | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
|
| Total goods debits | -22 342 | -22 101 | -22 149 | 48 | - |
| General merchandise | -21 956 | -21 752 | -21 777 | 25 | - |
| | Consumption goods | -7 940 | -7 900 | -8 172 | 272 | 3 |
| | | Food and beverages, mainly for consumption | -1 147 | -1 134 | -1 224 | 90 | 8 |
| | | Household electrical items | -502 | -491 | -533 | 42 | 9 |
| | | Non-industrial transport equipment | -1 844 | -1 887 | -1 891 | 4 | - |
| | | Textiles, clothing and footwear | -1 394 | -1 390 | -1 445 | 55 | 4 |
| | | Toys, books and leisure goods | -501 | -514 | -507 | -7 | -1 |
| | | Consumption goods n.e.s. | -2 552 | -2 483 | -2 571 | 88 | 4 |
| | Capital goods | -5 276 | -5 140 | -5 163 | 23 | - |
| | | Machinery and industrial equipment | -1 837 | -2 381 | -1 826 | -555 | -23 |
| | | ADP equipment | -751 | -755 | -701 | -54 | -7 |
| | | Telecommunications equipment | -902 | -893 | -945 | 52 | 6 |
| | | Civil aircraft and confidentialised items(b)(c) | -275 | -186 | -259 | 73 | 39 |
| | | Industrial transport equipment n.e.s. | -886 | -833 | -902 | 69 | 8 |
| | | Capital goods n.e.s.(d) | -625 | -91 | -530 | 439 | 482 |
| | Intermediate and other merchandise goods | -8 741 | -8 712 | -8 443 | -269 | -3 |
| | | Food and beverages, mainly for industry | -154 | -148 | -144 | -4 | -3 |
| | | Primary industrial supplies n.e.s.(d) | -149 | -163 | -161 | -2 | -1 |
| | | Fuels and lubricants(c) | -2 027 | -1 870 | -1 493 | -377 | -20 |
| | | Parts for transport equipment | -1 007 | -1 067 | -1 107 | 40 | 4 |
| | | Parts for ADP equipment | -58 | -59 | -52 | -7 | -12 |
| | | Other parts for capital goods | -1 233 | -1 220 | -1 299 | 79 | 6 |
| | | Organic and inorganic chemicals | -367 | -379 | -359 | -20 | -5 |
| | | Paper and paperboard | -216 | -212 | -219 | 7 | 3 |
| | | Textile yarn and fabrics | -122 | -125 | -131 | 6 | 5 |
| | | Iron and steel | -288 | -262 | -273 | 11 | 4 |
| | | Plastics | -335 | -345 | -346 | 1 | - |
| | | Processed industrial supplies n.e.s. | -2 645 | -2 730 | -2 730 | - | - |
| | | Other merchandise goods(b)(e) | -31 | -30 | -25 | -5 | -17 |
| | | Goods procured in ports by carriers(c) | -108 | -104 | -104 | - | - |
| Non-monetary gold(c) | -386 | -349 | -372 | 23 | 7 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For sign conventions, see paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes. |
| (b) From July 2008, commodities subject to a 'no commodity details' or 'no value details' restriction are included in Civil aircraft and confidentialised items. For earlier periods, commodities subject to a 'no commodity details' or 'no value details' restriction are included in Other merchandise goods. |
| (c) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (d) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (e) From July 1981, this component is not seasonally adjusted. |
CONSUMPTION GOODS
In trend terms, imports of consumption goods fell $9m to $7,997m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of consumption goods rose $272m (3%) to $8,172m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- food and beverages, mainly for consumption, up $90m (8%)
- consumption goods n.e.s., up $88m (4%)
- textiles, clothing and footwear, up $55m (4%)
- household electrical items, up $42m (9%).
CAPITAL GOODS
In trend terms, imports of capital goods fell $89m (2%) to $5,172m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of capital goods rose $23m to $5,163m.
The main components contributing to the rise in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- capital goods n.e.s., up $439m
- civil aircraft and confidentialised items, up $73m (39%).
Partly offsetting these rises was machinery and industrial equipment, down $555m (23%).
INTERMEDIATE AND OTHER MERCHANDISE GOODS
In trend terms, imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $150m (2%) to $8,606m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods fell $269m (3%) to $8,443m.
The main component contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates was fuels and lubricants, down $377m (20%).
Partly offsetting this fall was other parts for capital goods, up $79m (6%).
NON-MONETARY GOLD
In trend terms, imports of non-monetary gold fell $11m (3%) to $350m.
In original and seasonally adjusted terms, imports of non-monetary gold rose $23m (7%) to $372m.
Imports of services
SERVICES DEBITS
SERVICES DEBITS(a), Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| | | | | | Change in: |
| | | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 | Feb 2016 |
| | | $m | $m | $m | $m | % |
Seasonally Adjusted |
|
| Total services debits | -6 730 | -6 628 | -6 526 | -102 | -2 |
| Manufacturing services on physical inputs owned by others(b) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Maintenance and repair services n.i.e.(b) | -62 | -37 | -42 | 5 | 14 |
| Transport | -1 500 | -1 454 | -1 365 | -89 | -6 |
| | Passenger(c) | -505 | -506 | -519 | 13 | 3 |
| | Freight | -840 | -873 | -773 | -100 | -11 |
| | Other(b) | -147 | -68 | -68 | - | - |
| | Postal and courier services(d)(e) | -8 | -6 | -6 | - | - |
| Travel | -2 834 | -2 747 | -2 717 | -30 | -1 |
| Other services | -2 334 | -2 390 | -2 402 | 12 | 1 |
| Memorandum item | | | | | |
| Tourism related service debits(f) | -3 339 | -3 253 | -3 235 | -18 | -1 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| (a) For sign conventions, see paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes. |
| (b) This component is not seasonally adjusted. |
| (c) Passenger services includes agency fees and commissions for air transport. |
| (d) Postal and courier services includes indirect commissions for sea transport. |
| (e) In using these seasonally adjusted series, care should be exercised because of the difficulties associated with reliably estimating the seasonal pattern. |
| (f) For a more detailed explanation of tourism related services, see paragraph 29 of the Explanatory Notes. |
In trend terms, services debits rose $9m to $6,633m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, services debits fell $102m (2%) to $6,526m.
The main components contributing to the fall in seasonally adjusted estimates were:
- transport, down $89m (6%)
- travel, down $30m (1%).
In seasonally adjusted terms, tourism related services debits fell $18m (1%) to $3,235m.
In seasonally adjusted terms, total services debits contributed 23% of total goods and services imported.
Selected commodities
Selected commodities, Quantity and unit value analysis - International merchandise trade basis(a): Original terms |
|
| | Change in |
| | Sep 2015 | Oct 2015 | Nov 2015 | Dec 2015 | Jan 2016 | Feb 2016 |
| | % | % | % | % | % | % |
Iron ore |
|
| Lump | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -3 | 11 | -9 | 4 | -17 | 15 |
| Unit value | 6 | -9 | -13 | -12 | 7 | 6 |
| Fines | | | | | | |
| Quantity | 4 | -7 | - | 4 | -14 | 8 |
| Unit value | 5 | -5 | -10 | -12 | 4 | 3 |
Coal |
|
| Hard coking | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -3 | -4 | 4 | -7 | 4 | -17 |
| Unit value | - | p-7 | p1 | p17 | p - | p-13 |
| Semi-soft | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -8 | 4 | -2 | -1 | - | -27 |
| Unit value | -1 | p-1 | p-1 | p1 | p3 | p-4 |
| Thermal | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -13 | 4 | -3 | 9 | -10 | -3 |
| Unit value | 1 | -4 | -3 | -3 | - | -1 |
Gas |
|
| LNG | | | | | | |
| Quantity | -12 | 17 | 3 | 6 | -2 | 3 |
| Unit value | 7 | -5 | -7 | -1 | -1 | -4 |
|
| - nil or rounded to zero (including null cells) |
| p preliminary figure or series subject to revision |
| (a) Data in this table are on a revised international merchandise trade basis and exclude value adjustments applied to balance of payments series. |
International merchandise trade exports data presented in the above table are based on information reported by exporters to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). For commodities such as iron ore and coal, newly negotiated contract prices are not fully reflected in data first reported to DIBP. Final quantity and/or unit price information is updated progressively in international merchandise trade data as exporters revise the information provided to DIBP. When additional information for these commodities is available, the ABS may adjust the data to reflect actual transaction values.
Unit values in this publication are presented in Australian dollar terms. Movements in the unit values for some commodities incorporate movements in the United States dollar prices reported to DIBP and movements in the Australian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate.
On an international merchandise trade basis, in original terms (noting the footnote in the above table), between January and February 2016 the largest movements recorded for the following selected commodities were:
Iron ore lump, up $155m (22%), with quantities up 15% and unit values up 6%. Exports to:
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) rose $103m (21%), with quantities up 13% and unit values up 7%
- Japan rose $36m (29%), with quantities up 29%.
Iron ore fines, up $237m (10%), with quantities up 8% and unit values up 3%. Exports to:
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) rose $248m (13%), with quantities up 10% and unit values up 4%
- the Republic of Korea rose $18m (12%), with quantities up 7% and unit values up 5%
- Japan fell $62m (26%), with quantities down 23% and unit values down 4%.
Hard coking coal, down $350m (28%), with quantities down 17% and unit values down 13%. Exports to:
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) fell $122m (40%), with quantities down 27% and unit values down 18%
- Japan fell $81m (41%), with quantities down 29% and unit values down 16%
- Turkey fell $60m, with no imports this month
- India fell $59m (17%), with quantities down 7% and unit values down 11%.
Semi-soft coal, down $176m (30%), with quantities down 27% and unit values down 4%. Exports to:
- China (excluding SARs and Taiwan) fell $78m (65%), with quantities down 64% and unit values down 3%
- Japan fell $73m (34%), with quantities down 31% and unit values down 5%.
Thermal coal, down $50m (4%), with quantities down 3% and unit values down 1%. Exports to:
- Japan fell $104m (18%), with quantities down 15% and unit values down 3%
- Taiwan rose $75m (93%), with quantities up 93%.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG), down $28m (2%), with quantities up 3% and unit values down 4%.
Quality Declaration 
Print Page
Print All