5489.0 - International Merchandise Trade, Australia: Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2015  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/11/2015   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All

TRADE IMPORT AND EXPORT CLASSIFICATION (TRIEC)

5.75 The DFAT disseminates international merchandise trade data, sourced from the ABS, by the Trade Import and Export Classification (TRIEC). The TRIEC was developed by the DFAT as a means of classifying Australia’s international merchandise exports and imports by level of processing. TRIEC is based on the previous DFAT Trade Export Classification (TREC).

5.76 TRIEC is a hierarchical classification, developed and maintained by DFAT with the broadest classes of goods defined at the 1 digit level, down to a 4 digit level. It is based on the HS. The TRIEC Booklet contains detailed classification information and includes a correspondence between TRIEC and HS.

5.77 TRIEC is made up of three broad categories:

  • Primary products - classified as either Unprocessed or Processed
  • Manufactured products – classified as either Simply Transformed (STM) or Elaborately Transformed (ETM)
  • Other goods – mainly Non-monetary gold and Confidential trade.

5.78 The two main categories, Primary products (Unprocessed and Processed) and Manufactured products (STM and ETM), effectively classify goods by stage of processing, as defined below.
  • Unprocessed primary products are those that have undergone minimal, or no, transformation. Examples are live animals for food, wheat, crude petroleum, ores and concentrates.
  • Processed primary products represent a higher stage of processing. Examples are chilled or frozen meat and seafood, butter, cheese, flour, canned fruit and vegetables, wine and automotive spirit.
  • STM consist mainly of basic metal manufactures, chemicals and other intermediate manufactured goods which will be used as inputs into other goods. Examples include flat-rolled steel products, chemicals, leather and cotton yarn.
  • ETM are generally what would be termed 'finished goods'. ETM covers a vast range of goods, including machinery, whitegoods and other household wares, motor vehicles, clothing and footwear.

5.79 In a classification such as this there will inevitably be some items for which the distinction between the stages of processing will be a matter of judgement. This is particularly so in the case of STM and ETM, where the line between the two can be difficult to distinguish unambiguously.

5.80 TRIEC data is published in the DFAT publication Composition of Trade Australia. The publication is issued twice a year, on a calendar year basis and a financial year basis. DFAT’s trade statistical publications can be found on the DFAT website.

5.81 An example of the hierarchical structure of the TRIEC is shown in Table 5.10 below.

TABLE 5.10: EXAMPLE OF THE HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE TRIEC

LevelCodeDescription

1 digit1Primary Products
2 digit11Primary Products - Unprocessed
3 digit111Primary Products - Unprocessed - Food & live animals
4 digit1113Vegetables, fruits & nuts, fresh, chilled or provisionally preserved