Australian trade policy and news

Exports rise 4 per cent in December but down overall in ‘09

The value of Australian exports rose by 4 per cent to $19.8 billion in the month of December last year on the back of a 21 per cent surge in exports to China.

The Acting Trade Minister, Mr Tony Burke, said it was pleasing to see the strong rise in the value of exports in December after falls in seven of the previous nine months. The increase was driven by a 10 per cent rise in the value of coal exports and a 25 per cent increase in metal exports. Rural exports increased 7 per cent on the back of increased oil seed and fish exports.

The value of merchandise exports to China increased by 21 per cent in December and 31 per cent for 2009, making China Australia’s largest merchandise export market on an annual basis for the first time. Japan had been Australia’s largest export market for the past 43 years. The only other major export market to record growth in 2009 was India, where merchandise exports increased by 7 per cent for the year.

For further information, see the media release

Australia’s Top Ten Exports of Goods and Services in 2009

Coal, iron ore, education, gold and travel services were Australia’s tope exports in 2009, according to preliminary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released on 3 February.  

China has overtaken Japan as Australia’s largest export market for merchandise goods.  Japan was Australia’s largest market for the past 43 years.

List of Australia’s top 10 exports, and the top ten goods exports markets (pdf)