4156.0 - Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/10/2009   
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Contents >> Chapter 12 - Products >> International Trade in Sports and Physical Recreation Products

INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION PRODUCTS

International trade statistics are compiled from information supplied to Customs by exporters and importers or their agents. There are 1.2 million export transactions and 5 million import transactions recorded each year, many of which are small value records. Due to the large volume of transactions involved and the limited resources available to undertake checks, ABS editing resources are mostly focussed on editing large value records. The majority of data about international trade in sports and physical recreation products relate to small value records, which are 'as reported to Customs'. More information about the quality of international trade data are included in the ABS publication Information Paper: Ensuring International Trade Data Quality, 2008 (cat. no. 5498.0.55.001).

There are some sports and physical recreation products for which trade data are not separately available, primarily because they are parts of larger product categories predominantly out of scope of the ACLC Product Classification. Sports apparel is one example. The various items of sports apparel are not separately identified in trade statistics, but are instead included in parts of more general categories of clothing. Another example is automatic bowling alley equipment, which for the purposes of international trade, is part of the category Other articles for funfair, table or parlour games. This category is predominantly in scope of the Other leisure products part of the ACLC Product Classification and hence is excluded from data concerning international trade in sports and physical recreation products.

Australia's trade in the selected sports and physical recreation goods is in deficit. Imports of these goods during 2007-08 were valued at $2,078.8m. This is four times the $510.9m in sports and physical recreation goods which was exported during that year. The category of Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports ($289.7m) was the main contributor to the overall export figure, followed by Horses with $88.7m. Together these categories accounted for over 70% of total exports. At $591.9m, the category of Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports was also the main contributor to the overall import figure, followed by Gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment with $227.7m. The combined contribution of these categories to total imports was nearly 40%.

The main source countries of imported sports and physical recreation goods during 2007-08 were China ($682.9m) and the United States of America (USA) ($413.6m), together accounting for over half of all imports of these goods. The USA was also the largest market for exported sports and physical recreation goods ($111.6m), while the second largest market was New Zealand ($98.5m). The combined purchases by these two countries of Australian sports and physical recreation exports accounted for close to half the total (41%).


Exports of sports and physical recreation goods

Sports and physical recreation goods exported from Australia during 2007-08 were valued at $510.9m, 0.4% higher than the $508.8m recorded for 2006-07.

Since 2001-02, the product categories Horses and Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports have been the dominant contributors to the total value of sports and physical recreation goods exported. During that time, their combined contribution has always exceeded 60%. For Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports, the value (in current prices) increased for all years except 2003-04 with the 2007-08 figure of $289.7m being over one and a half times the $185.6m recorded for 2001-02. The value of exports of Horses decreased significantly from $141.8m being reported for 2006-07 to $88.7m for 2007-08.

Other product categories which have made substantial contributions to total exports since 2001-02 are Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation, swimming pools and paddling pools and Water-skis, surf-boards, sailboards and other water sports equipment. For 2007-08, these categories contributed exports worth $25.3m and $15.6m respectively.

12.2 EXPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS(a)(b), Current prices

2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Horses
129.9
121.3
117.1
101.9
114.4
141.8
88.7
Swimwear for women and girls
5.3
7.3
9.7
12.9
10.6
11.7
12.2
Waterskis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment
25.4
19.0
19.6
21.2
21.7
21.8
15.6
Golf clubs and other golf equipment
27.6
41.5
18.0
7.7
12.1
11.4
11.1
Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation; swimming pools and paddling pools
15.6
19.3
19.9
22.4
22.2
25.2
25.3
Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports
185.6
186.8
123.3
199.9
230.3
232.6
289.7
Spark-ignition marine outboard motors
8.2
13.5
14.0
15.3
17.2
11.7
17.5
Total(c)
463.4
473.9
381.8
436.6
483.2
508.8
510.9

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.  
(b) Other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
(c) Total includes exports of all sports and physical recreation goods.
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS SERVICE-Electronic Delivery.



Destination of exports

Throughout the period 2001-02 to 2007-08, New Zealand and the USA have been the major destinations for sports and physical recreation goods exported from Australia. For 2007-08, the value of exports to the USA was higher at $111.6m compared with $98.5m to New Zealand. Exports to New Zealand were valued at 50% higher than the $62.6m worth of goods exported to Singapore which was the third-placed export destination.

The value (in current prices) of exports of sports and physical recreation goods to individual countries has varied over time. Exports to Italy increased from $19.7m in 2006-07 to $29.4m in 2007-08. Exports to Hong Kong (SAR of China) decreased from $43.2m in 2001-02 to $29.2m in 2004-05, rose to $39.0m in 2006-07 and then decreased to $31.9m in 2007-08. Exports to Singapore more than doubled to $62.6m in 2007-08 from $24.5m in 2006-07 and exports to Spain rose from $4.7m in 2005-06 to $16.2m in 2006-07 and then increased to $19.6m in 2007-08.

These fluctuations in the value of exports of sports and physical recreation goods may be a result of relatively large value items e.g. Boats and Horses included in the data. Relatively small fluctuations in the volume of exports of these goods can have a relatively large impact on the value of exports to an individual country.

12.3 EXPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS(a)(b), By destination

2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Country of Origin
United States of America
95.5
96.7
63.2
95.4
105.4
95.4
111.6
New Zealand
94.7
106.8
94.7
108.8
126.9
138.5
98.5
Singapore
10.5
14.4
9.7
7.9
12.8
24.5
62.6
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
43.2
39.5
34.9
29.2
35.3
39.0
31.9
Italy
6.6
10.9
10.1
22.6
23.0
19.7
29.4
Spain
6.2
6.3
4.1
12.6
4.7
16.2
19.6
United Kingdom
21.3
19.2
37.3
14.1
14.0
24.2
16.9
Papua New Guinea
2.6
3.9
6.7
5.0
6.4
4.5
11.7
South Africa
4.8
5.6
4.8
8.8
14.0
20.2
10.6
New Caledonia
5.6
7.4
12.1
7.9
11.8
7.8
10.3
Total(c)
463.4
473.9
381.8
436.6
483.2
508.8
510.9

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using 'Free on Board' valuations.
(b) Other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
(c) Total includes exports of all sports and physical recreation goods.
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia,: FASTTRACCS Service-Electronic Delivery.



Imports of sports and physical recreation goods

The value (in current prices) of sports and physical recreation goods imported into Australia during 2007-08 was $2,078.8m. This was 0.8% lower than the $2,096.1m recorded in 2006-07.

Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports and Gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment were the product categories which contributed most to the value of imports of sports and physical recreation goods in 2007-08. These two categories were also in the top three in terms of value of goods imported for the previous two years. Other categories in the top five for 2007-08 were Bicycles and other cycles, not motorised ($174.5m); Spark-ignition marine outboard motors ($169.8m) and Sports or physical recreation footwear ($142.2m).

Together, these five sports and physical recreation product categories accounted for 63% ($1,306.1m) of total imports of sports and physical recreation goods in 2007-08 and not less than 54% of the total in any other year since 2001-02.

12.4 IMPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION PRODUCTS(a)(b), Current prices

2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Horses
71.3
92.5
66.2
84.2
108.2
130.3
129.0
Tents
36.7
34.6
32.4
43.7
52.9
56.4
57.9
Swimwear for women and girls
28.1
33.8
30.6
38.3
42.4
46.1
41.9
Saddlery and harness, for any animal, of any material
22.3
23.6
24.6
30.5
30.1
38.5
34.1
Sports or physical recreation footwear
166.0
187.1
148.0
159.7
155.8
175.7
142.2
Waterskis, surfboards, sailboards and other water sports equipment
32.0
33.0
35.1
42.2
47.2
50.3
49.4
Gymnasium or athletics articles and equipment
84.6
100.6
111.4
155.1
203.5
241.1
227.4
Golf clubs and other golf equipment
98.1
99.5
84.0
92.4
90.9
91.1
85.6
Sports balls
31.0
36.3
28.8
31.2
36.7
r36.5
34.4
Fishing rods and other line fishing tackle; fish landing nets, butterfly and similar nets; decoy 'birds' and similar hunting or shooting requisites
65.2
58.8
57.2
59.8
68.8
78.4
73.9
Sporting, hunting or target-shooting shotguns and rifles
12.0
15.9
14.2
17.1
18.6
r21.7
24.0
Other articles and equipment for sports or physical recreation; swimming pools and paddling pools
65.7
67.3
64.8
74.3
85.2
109.8
100.7
Snowmobiles; and golf cars and similar vehicles
13.2
13.8
13.8
21.7
21.8
19.0
21.8
Bicycles and other cycles, not motorised
116.4
130.8
111.4
149.9
163.6
174.9
174.5
Boats, yachts and other vessels for pleasure or sports
140.1
137.5
223.1
373.6
474.6
521.3
591.9
Spark-ignition marine outboard motors
156.2
174.5
172.5
182.4
208.2
186.3
169.8
Total(c)
1 233.9
1 349.0
1 317.2
1 662.5
1 925.8
2 096.1
2 078.8

r revised
(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using the Australian Customs Value.
(b) Other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
(c) Total includes exports of all sports and physical recreation goods.
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS Service-Electronic Delivery.



Origin of imports

Throughout the period 2001-02 to 2007-08, China and the USA have been the major sources of sports and physical recreation goods imported into Australia. For 2007-08, the combined imports from these two countries amounted to $1,096.5m, which was over half the total of all imports of these goods. China was the largest contributor to this figure and provided imports worth $682.9m. The $413.6m contributed to the total figure by the USA placed it second as a source of Australia's imports. This amount was two and a half times greater than the $155.4m worth of goods imported from Taiwan which was the third-placed import source. Following Taiwan were Japan, which provided imports worth $145.2m in 2007-08; the United Kingdom with $130.3m; and New Zealand with $117.2m.

These countries were the top six sources of imports for every year of the period 2001-02 to 2007-08. Together they provided between 79% and 82% of Australia's imports of sports and physical recreation goods in each year in this period.

Imports from China nearly doubled from $373.4m in 2001-02 to $682.9m in 2007-08, while imports from the USA increased by more than 50% during this period ($266.2m to $413.9m). The value of imports from the United Kingdom more than tripled over this period - from $38.3m in 2001-02 to $130.3m in 2007-08.

12.5 IMPORTS OF SELECTED SPORTS AND PHYSICAL RECREATION GOODS(a)(b), Current prices - By origin

2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Country of origin
China
373.4
447.6
407.4
502.9
585.3
706.3
682.9
United States of America
266.2
261.6
274.4
381.6
473.0
420.2
413.6
Taiwan
103.7
105.3
96.5
136.5
156.9
169.4
155.4
Japan
115.4
140.8
129.1
145.6
161.5
132.7
145.2
United Kingdom
38.3
63.5
65.3
78.5
102.6
126.4
130.3
New Zealand
79.7
71.7
78.9
97.6
96.1
112.0
117.2
France
23.5
25.5
28.1
34.7
34.5
47.8
59.5
Italy
24.2
24.5
27.0
29.5
36.5
52.7
59.2
Canada
16.0
15.6
18.1
22.7
29.6
50.9
40.0
India
21.2
24.0
26.2
28.5
28.8
34.7
29.8
Germany
12.3
15.8
15.0
16.2
18.4
21.9
28.7
Viet Nam
28.8
25.4
20.2
25.6
24.8
31.8
26.6
Total(c)
1 233.9
1 349.0
1 317.2
1 662.5
1 925.8
2 092.5
2 078.8

(a) All data are presented in Australian dollars using the Australian Customs Value.
(b) Other exports of sports and physical recreation goods are available on request.
(c) Total includes exports of all sports and physical recreation goods
Source: Data available on request, International Trade, Australia: FASTTRACCS Service-Electronic Delivery.



Balance of trade in sports and physical recreation goods

The countries shown in Graph 12.6 were Australia's major trading partners in sports and physical recreation goods for 2007-08. That is, they were the countries with which total transactions (exports and imports) were greatest. Australia had a trade deficit with all but one of these countries in 2007-08 for sports and physical recreation goods. The largest trade deficit was with China ($680.7m), followed by the USA ($302.0m), Taiwan ($154.5m) and Japan ($135.3m). Australia's largest trade surplus in sports and physical recreation goods was with Singapore ($50.5m), while Hong Kong (SAR of China) was the only other major trading partner with which Australia had a trade surplus ($12.8m).

12.6 Balance of trade in selected sports and physical recreation goods - 2007-08
Graph: 12.6 Balance of trade in selected sports and physical recreation goods—2007–08








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