Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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Australia's exports of goods and services strengthened to $39.2 billion in the December quarter 2004, marking the sixth consecutive quarterly rise in exports values, and a 12 per cent rise on the same quarter the previous year.
The stronger performance was mainly due to higher exports of minerals and fuels and manufactures. Australia's terms of trade also continued to strengthen, reaching its highest level since 1974 due mainly to lower import prices.
The export results are highlighted in the December quarter issue of Trade Topics: A Quarterly Review of Australia's International Trade, released today by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Trade Topics brings together a range of statistics produced by Australian government agencies and international organisations, together with analysis of the latest trade developments designed to keep Australians informed of market conditions and trends.
Feature articles in this issue of Trade Topics include the prospects for future trade with India; Australia's trade and investment relationship with Malaysia; the diversity of State and Territory exports; hedging practices by Australian companies involved in international trade; and the use of mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) in addressing impediments to trade.
The publication contains quarterly and annual data on Australia's trade in goods and services by commodity, market, level of processing, and State and Territory as well as selected macroeconomic, commodity price and investment information.
The quarterly publication (priced at $30 or $95 annual subscription) is a new addition to a series of trade publications published each year by DFAT. Copies can be purchased through the Market Information and Analysis Section (ph 02 6261 3114, fax 02 6261 3321 or email statssection@dfat.gov.au). The analysis and summary tables from publications, and an order form, are available at: www.dfat.gov.au/publications/statistics.html.