CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE


Changes to Confidentiality

Confidentiality changes have been applied to imports in the August 2017 reference month. The changes at the Harmonized System (HS) statistical code level include suppressing commodity details for 3 additional commodities spanning two Standard International Trade Classifications (SITC) and Balance of Payments Broad Economic Categories (BOPBEC), as set out in the table below and published in International Merchandise Trade: Confidential Commodities List, August 2017 (cat. no. 5372.0.55.001). These confidentialised items are included in SITC 98 and HS statistical code 9988888899. In addition, data in these categories has been perturbed this month.

SITCs and BOPBECs potentially impacted by the new 'No Commodity Details' confidentiality restrictions
SITC 2 digit code	SITC label		BOPBEC 2 digit code	BOPBEC label
82	Furniture and parts thereof; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions and similar stuffed furnishings		CF	Consumption goods n.e.s.
76	Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment		KC	Telecommunications equipment

Annual seasonal re-analysis

In this issue, the seasonally adjusted and trend estimates of goods and services on a balance of payments basis have been revised as a result of the annual seasonal re-analysis. This re-analysis reviews the seasonal and trading day factors in more detail than is possible in the monthly processing cycle and reassesses the appropriateness of any prior corrections.


Revisions to merchandise trade data outside the normal revision period

In this issue, the ABS have revised imports data in Harmonized System Chapter 89 (Ships, Boats and Floating Structures) on an international merchandise trade basis for the 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years. This change will impact all imports tables of this publication and detailed statistics available on request. These revisions will be included in balance of payments estimates of goods debits, and national accounts estimates of imports of goods and services, as revision periods for those estimates allow.


Revisions to International Trade in Services data

From 1 July 2017, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) no longer requires travellers leaving Australia to complete an Outgoing Passenger Card (OPC). Data collected from alternate existing electronic records maintained by DIBP is able to meet most of the requirements for the continued production of the Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0) which is used as a direct data input into travel, transport and government services n.i.e.. This will result in revisions to all International Trade in Services tables of this publication noting that there will be other revisions to estimates as updated data from providers have also been incorporated. Further information on the upcoming changes to Overseas Arrivals and Departures, can be found within the Notes Section of the Overseas Arrivals and Departures, Australia (cat. no. 3401.0) publication.

Additionally, historical revisions that span the entire time series will be included in balance of payments estimates, and national accounts estimates, as the revision period for those estimates allow. More information on this can be found in the Information Paper: Changes to the 2016-17 release of the Australian System of National Accounts, 2016-17 (cat. no. 5204.0.55.012).