Australia's trade with East Asia, the European Union and the Americas in 2007

Media Release

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) released
three new trade analysis publications today: Australia's
Trade with East Asia 2007, Australia's Trade with the European
Union 2007 and Australia's Trade with the
Americas 2007. These three regions account for 80 per
cent of Australia's total trade with the world. The
publications show:

Australia's Trade with East Asia

• The
  value of Australia's exports in goods and services to East Asia
  rose 3.7 per cent in 2007 to $114 billion, accounting for 53
  per cent of Australia's total exports.
• Iron ore (up 14.6 per cent to $16.0 billion), coal
  (down 8.0 per cent to $13.0 billion) and crude petroleum (up
  18.4 per cent to $6.8 billion) were Australia's largest
  merchandise export items to East Asia in 2007.
• The
  most important markets were Japan, China, Republic of Korea,
  Singapore and Taiwan.
• Services exports also rose, up 7.7 per cent to $17.6 billion.
  Australia's imports of goods and services from East Asia
  increased 5.9 per cent to $109.9 billion.

Australia's
Trade with the European Union

• Exports of goods and services to the EU fell 3.3 per cent to
  $27.9 billion in 2007 and accounted for 12.9 per cent of
  Australia's total exports.
• Coal (down 18.9 per cent to $3.0 billion), gold (down 28.3 per
  cent to $2.8 billion) and alcoholic beverages (up 8.5 per cent
  to $1.4 billion) were Australia's largest merchandise export
  items to the region in 2007.
• The
  United Kingdom was the largest export market within the EU,
  followed by the Netherlands, Germany and France. Services
  exports rose 5.3 per cent to $8.7 billion. Imports of
  goods and services from the EU increased 10.4 per cent to $51.2
  billion.

Australia's Trade with the Americas

• Australia's exports of goods and services to the Americas rose
  1.6 per cent to $19.8 billion in 2007, and accounted for 9.2
  per cent of Australia's total exports.
• Major merchandise exports to the Americas that recorded strong
  growth in 2007 included, medical instruments (up 15.8 per
  cent to $468 million), aircraft & parts (up 18.4 per cent
  to $348 million), and crude petroleum (up 139.4 per cent
  to $237 million).
• Exports to the United States accounted for 79.6 per cent
  of exports to the Americas, Canada accounted for 12.7 per cent
  and Central America, the Caribbean and South America accounted
  for the remaining 7.7 per cent.
• Exports of services also rose, up 8.7 per cent to $7.4 billion.
  Australia's imports of goods and services from the
  Americas rose 1.1 per cent to $37.4 billion.

These reports are part of a series of trade publications
released each year by DFAT. They are available at www.dfat.gov.au/publications/statistics.html.
Should clients wish to obtain printed copies, they will be
directed from the DFAT website to an external website, where
they can place an order for a hard copy.

Media Enquiries: DFAT Media Liaison - 02 6261
1555