Australia's trade with East Asia, the Americas, and the European Union: 2010

Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The following geographic statistical publications have just been released are available on the DFAT website:

• Australia's Trade with East Asia 2010
• Australia's Trade with the Americas 2010
• Australia's Trade with the European Union 2010

Australia's Trade with East Asia 2010

• The value of total trade in goods and services was $302.9 billion, up 14.9 per cent from 2009.
• Exports were valued at $176.2 billion, up 21.3 per cent on 2009, driven by shipments of primary products, which rose 28 per cent. Iron ore was the standout, rising 64 per cent (or $19.2 billion). The main exports were iron ore, mainly to China ($49.2 billion), and coal, mainly to Japan, China and the Republic of Korea ($29.3 billion).
• Imports were valued at $126.7 billion, up 7.1 per cent on 2009. The biggest imports by value were passenger motor vehicles ($10.5 billion) and crude petroleum ($9.6 billion).
• Key export markets in East Asia were China (up 34.3 per cent to $64.4 billion); Japan (up 13.4 per cent to $45.7 billion); and Korea (up 28.3 per cent to $22.4 billion).
• China, Japan and Singapore were the key import sources in 2010.

Australia's Trade with the Americas 2010

• The value of total trade in goods and services was $64.3 billion, up 1.1 per cent from 2009.
• Exports to the Americas totalled $21.3 billion, down marginally on 2009. An 8 per cent increase in manufactures exports offset falls in other exports. The main exports were travel services ($3 billion) and coal, mainly to South America and Mexico ($1.5 billion).
• Imports totalled $43 billion, up nearly $1 billion on 2009. The major imports were travel services ($4.6 billion) and medicaments ($1.4 billion). Imports of aircraft were also significant.
• Australia's key export markets in the Americas were the United States ($14.5 billion), Canada ($2.0 billion) and Mexico ($789 million).
• The United States, Canada and Mexico were also the top import sources in 2010, although imports from Chile showed the strongest growth, rising 35.2 per cent to $1.1 billion.

Australia's Trade with the European Union 2010

• The value of total trade in goods and services was $78 billion, up marginally on 2009.
• The value of exports was $27 billion, up nearly $1 billion on the previous year. The rise was driven by increased exports of primary products (up 30.6 per cent). The biggest exports by value were travel services ($5.5 billion) and gold ($5.2 billion). Coal exports rose 57.5 per cent to $3.9 billion.
• The value of imports (excluding aircraft) totalled $51 billion, down marginally from 2009. The major imports were travel services ($5.5 billion) and medicaments ($5.4 billion).
• Although exports to the United Kingdom fell in 2010 by 6.5 per cent to $12.4 billion, it remained overwhelmingly the largest destination country. The Netherlands was next (up 24.2 per cent to $3.1 billion), followed by Germany (up 7.4 per cent to $2.8 billion).
• Germany was the largest import source in 2010, followed by the United Kingdom and Italy.

Combined, East Asia, the Americas, and the European Union accounted for more than 80 per cent of Australia's international trade in 2010. The publications contain analysis of Australia's trade with countries within the region, as well as the region as a whole. The growth, composition and direction of Australia's goods and services trade are included. Also included are the main economic indicators, presented through a series of economic fact sheets for each county in the region.

The publications are part of a series of trade publications published each year by DFAT. These are available at: www.dfat.gov.au/publications/statistics.html