5368.0.55.006 - Characteristics of Australian Exporters, 2010-11  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/05/2012   
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ANALYSIS AND COMMENTS


OVERVIEW

There were 44,766 Australian exporters in 2010–11, almost unchanged from 2009–10 (an increase of 185 exporters). Of these Australian exporters, 42,734 were exporters of merchandise goods and 3,265 were exporters of services. Of those businesses engaged in exporting services, an estimated 1,233 (38%) were also exporters of merchandise goods.

The value of total goods and services exports rose by 17% from 2009–10 to 2010–11. The total value of goods exports increased by 22%, and the value of total services exports decreased by 2%.

A number of factors have impacted the number of exporters and value of Australian exports, including movements in the exchange rate. The average A$ exchange rate during 2010–11 was $0.99 against the US$ compared to $0.88 in 2009–10. The majority of Australia's trade is contracted in US dollars and an increase in the value of the A$ relative to the US$ effectively raises the cost of Australia's exports. The average Trade Weighted Index for 2010–11 was 74.0, compared to 68.9 for 2009–10.

In 2010–11 there were 259 goods exporters with aggregate goods exports worth $100m or higher. This was an increase of 18 from 2009–10 compared to a decrease of 15 from 2008–09 to 2009–10. Although these 259 goods exporters represented less than 1% of the total goods exporter population, they contributed 85% of value of goods exports in 2010–11.

There were 28,935 (68%) goods exporters with aggregate goods exports worth less than $100,000 that contributed less than 1% of the value of total goods exports in 2010–11. Businesses with aggregate goods exports of '$10,000 and less than $100,000' represented 39% of goods exporters, and businesses exporting goods valued at 'less than $10,000' represented 29% of goods exporters.

There were 3,265 service exporters in 2010–11, an increase of 141 (5%) from 2009–10. The increase in the number of service exporters was driven by businesses with services exports of 'Less than $1m', which increased by 127 (6%) to 2,374.

The value of services exported in 2010–11 decreased by $1,137m (2%), to $50,826m when compared to 2009–10. The decrease in the value of services exported was mainly driven by businesses with services exports of '$50m and less than $100m' where the value decreased by $311m (11%) to $2,621m from 2009–10. The value of services exports by 'Other Services Exporters' decreased by $1,660m (5%) to $32,810m. This category covers service types including travel, insurance and government services.


EXPORT ACTIVITY

(Table 2)

During 2010–11, 19,996 (47%) of goods exporters lodged only 1 or 2 export transactions. The total value of their goods exports was $1,154m (less than 1% of total goods exports). 11,403 goods exporters lodged only 1 or 2 export transactions and had total exports worth less than $10,000. There were 4,198 (10%) goods exporters lodging more than 50 transactions, and the total value of their exports was $216b (88% of total goods exports).


INDUSTRY

(Tables 3 and 4)

Industries with the most significant contribution by exporting businesses to the total value of goods exports in 2010–11 were Mining (54%), Manufacturing (15%) and Wholesale trade (11%). These three industries accounted for $197b (80%) of the value of goods exports in 2010–11 compared to $165b (82%) in 2009–10.

The industries with the highest number of goods exporters in 2010–11 were Wholesale trade (12,076 or 28%) and Manufacturing (9,268 or 22%).

The Manufacturing industry had the largest decrease in number of exporters (186) followed by the Retail trade (52). The most significant decrease in the value of goods exports between 2009–10 and 2010–11 was in Manufacturing, down $7b (16%) to $37b.

The average value of exports per business in 2010–11 was $6m, $1m higher than in 2009–10. In 2010–11, the Mining industry had the highest average value of exports per exporter ($234m). The lowest average value of total exports per exporter were in Construction services ($0.4m per exporter), and in Goods exporters without an ABN ($0.2m per exporter).

Mining had the highest correlation (87%) between the industry that produced the commodity and the industry which exported the final product.


BUSINESS SIZE

(Table 5)

There were 4,207 large businesses exporting goods in 2010–11, representing 10% of all businesses exporting goods. These businesses exported goods worth $233b (95%) of all exports. (See paragraphs 25–27 of the Explanatory notes for a definition of business size.) The industry with the highest percentage of large businesses was Mining (40%). The 228 large mining businesses represented less than 1% of all goods exporting businesses but were responsible for 54% of the total value of goods exports. The industries, apart from 'Other', with the largest number of large businesses were Manufacturing (1,119 goods exporters with $33b of goods exports) and Wholesale trade (1,017 goods exporters with $21b of goods exports).

Medium sized businesses represented 49% of all goods exporters in 2010–11. These businesses exported 5% of the total value of goods exports. The Construction, Manufacturing and Wholesale trade industries had the highest proportion of medium sized businesses. Of the medium sized businesses, those in the Manufacturing and Wholesale trade industries had the largest value of goods exports.

In 2010–11, small businesses made up 42% of all goods exporters by number and contributed less than 1% of the total value of goods exports. The industry with the highest number of small goods exporters in 2010–11 was Wholesale trade with 4,450. Of the small businesses, those in the Wholesale trade and Other industries had the largest value of goods exports.

The Australian Business Number (ABN) is used to obtain selected information on exporting businesses from the Australian Business Register (ABR). In 2010–11, 10% of goods exporting businesses did not have an ABN. These businesses were allocated a business size based on the value of their exports. The business size of exporters with an ABN was based on several factors and caution should be exercised in interpreting these data (see paragraphs 25–27 of the Explanatory Notes). 99% of goods exporting businesses without an ABN were classified as small businesses. For businesses with an ABN, the highest proportion of small businesses were in the Retail trade (42%) and Agriculture, forestry and fishing (39%).


STATE DATA

(Tables 6, 7 and 8)

46% of Australia's total value of goods exports in 2010–11 came from Western Australia, followed by Queensland (20%), New South Wales (15%), and Victoria (8%).

Western Australia ($83b) and Queensland ($31b) have combined mining exports of $114b, representing 85% of total exports by exporters in the Mining industry in 2010–11. New South Wales ($11b) and Victoria ($8b) have combined manufacturing exports of $19b, contributing 53% of total exports by exporters in the Manufacturing industry.


LOCATION OF SMALL GOODS EXPORTERS

(Table 9)

Of the small businesses with an ABN exporting goods, 36% had their main State of business operations in New South Wales, 28% in Victoria, 19% in Queensland, 10% in Western Australia, 6% in South Australia and 1% in Tasmania.

Tasmania recorded the largest percentage increase in the number of small exporters with an ABN (18%), while Victoria had the largest increase in the number (up 45 or 1%). The states with decreases in the number of small exporters were New South Wales (17), and South Australia (13).


SERVICES EXPORTERS

(Table 10)

The number of businesses exporting services increased by 141 (5%) to 3,265 in 2010–11. This increase was driven by:

  • Personal, cultural and recreational services, up 143 (33%)
  • Construction services, up 112 (30%)
  • Other business services, up 98 (5%).

These increases were offset by Maintenance and repair services n.i.e., down 30 (5%).

The value of services exported decreased $1,137m (2%) to $50,826m in 2010–11, with Travel down $1,688m (5%).

This decrease was offset by Other business services, up 457 (7%).