Latest release

International Trade Price Indexes, Australia

Contains indexes measuring changes in prices of imports of merchandise landed in Australia and exports of merchandise shipped from Australia

Reference period

June 2021

Released

29/07/2021

Key statistics

Export price index rose 13.2% this quarter and 26.0% through the year.
Import price index rose 1.9% this quarter and fell 2.5% through the year.
The exchange rate had a small upward impact on export prices and small downward impact on import prices this quarter.

Export price index

The main contributors to the rise were:

Metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+18.5%), driven by the demand for iron ore from China and constrained global supply.
Coal, coke and briquettes (+15.6%), reflecting the demand for thermal coal for household power production in Asia.
Gas, natural and manufactured (+14.6%), due to the oil-linked contracts capturing the continued rise in oil prices in early 2021.
Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+12.0%), driven by stronger oil demand and reduced global supply.
Meat and meat preparations (+10.1%), due to constrained global meat supply driving price rises across both beef and lamb.

Export price index - all groups, quarterly % change
EXPORT PRICE INDEX: all groups, Quarterly % change	% change
Jun-17	-5.7
Sep-17	-3.0
Dec-17	2.8
Mar-18	4.9
Jun-18	1.9
Sep-18	3.7
Dec-18	4.4
Mar-19	4.5
Jun-19	3.8
Sep-19	1.3
Dec-19	-5.2
Mar-20	2.7
Jun-20	-2.4
Sep-20	-5.1
Dec-20	5.5
Mar-21	11.2
Jun-21	13.2

["EXPORT PRICE INDEX: all groups, Quarterly % change","% change"]

[["Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[-5.7000000000000002],[-3],[2.7999999999999998],[4.9000000000000004],[1.8999999999999999],[3.7000000000000002],[4.4000000000000004],[4.5],[3.7999999999999998],[1.3],[-5.2000000000000002],[2.7000000000000002],[-2.3999999999999999],[-5.0999999999999996],[5.5],[11.199999999999999],[13.199999999999999]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"% change","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Through the year, the Export Price Index rose 26.0%. The main contributor was:

Metalliferous ores and metal scrap (+71.4%).

Import price index

The main contributors to the rise were:

Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials (+10.2%), driven by stronger oil demand and reduced global supply.
Fertilisers (excluding crude) (+18.3%), driven by strong global and domestic demand amid favourable planting conditions.
Iron and steel (+11.8%) due to global construction demand outpacing supply.
Non-ferrous metals (+8.9%), driven by strong demand in both manufacturing and construction globally.
Plastic in primary form (+12.8%), driven strong demand and constrained supply.

The main offsetting contributor was:

Telecommunications and sound recording equipment (-2.9%), due to the discounting of older model mobile phones.

Import price index - all groups, quarterly % change
IMPORT PRICE INDEX: all groups, Quarterly % change	% change
Jun-17	-0.1
Sep-17	-1.6
Dec-17	2.4
Mar-18	2.0
Jun-18	3.2
Sep-18	1.9
Dec-18	0.5
Mar-19	-0.5
Jun-19	0.9
Sep-19	0.4
Dec-19	0.7
Mar-20	-1.0
Jun-20	-1.9
Sep-20	-3.5
Dec-20	-1.0
Mar-21	0.2
Jun-21	1.9

["IMPORT PRICE INDEX: all groups, Quarterly % change","% change"]

[["Jun-17","Sep-17","Dec-17","Mar-18","Jun-18","Sep-18","Dec-18","Mar-19","Jun-19","Sep-19","Dec-19","Mar-20","Jun-20","Sep-20","Dec-20","Mar-21","Jun-21"],[[-0.10000000000000001],[-1.6000000000000001],[2.3999999999999999],[2],[3.2000000000000002],[1.8999999999999999],[0.5],[-0.5],[0.90000000000000002],[0.40000000000000002],[0.69999999999999996],[-1],[-1.8999999999999999],[-3.5],[-1],[0.20000000000000001],[1.8999999999999999]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"% change","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":null,"axis_max":null,"tick_interval":null,"precision":"-1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Through the year, the Import Price Index fell 2.5%. The main contributors were:

Telecommunications and sound recording equipment (-12.5%),
Office machines and ADP machines (-15.9%), and
General industrial machinery and equipment (-8.5%).

Data downloads

Time series spreadsheets

Data files

Tables 1, 3 and 12. Import price index by SITC, index numbers and percentage changes

Download xls [215 KB]

Tables 4, 5 and 6. Import price index by balance of payments broad economic categories, index numbers

Download xls [123.5 KB]

Tables 7 and 9. Export price index by SITC, index numbers and percentage changes

Download xls [213 KB]

Tables 10 and 11. Export price index by balance of payments classification of exports, index numbers

Download xls [93 KB]

Table 13. Import price index by selected HTISC section, index numbers

Download xls [234 KB]

Tables 14 and 15. Import price index by selected ANZSIC division and subdivision, index numbers

Download xls [102 KB]

Table 16. Import price index: BEC category, index numbers

Download xls [75.5 KB]

Table 18. Export price index by selected AHECC section, index numbers

Download xls [216.5 KB]

Table 19. Export price index by selected ANZSIC division and subdivision, index numbers

Download xls [85 KB]

All time series spreadsheets

Download zip [543.56 KB]

Download all (51.77 KB)

Data cubes

Data files

Use of price indexes in contracts

Price indexes published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provide summary measures of the movements in various categories of prices over time. They are published primarily for use in Government economic analysis. Price indexes are also often used in contracts by businesses and government to adjust payments and/or charges to take account of changes in categories of prices (Indexation Clauses).

Use of Price Indexes in Contracts sets out a range of issues that should be taken into account by parties considering including an Indexation Clause in a contract using an ABS published price index.

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 6457.0.