Composition of Trade Australia 1998 - Release of Publication

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE

AUSTRALIA

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade today released
the 1998 edition of the publication Composition of Trade, Australia.
This authoritative publication provides a comprehensive analysis
of the growth, direction and commodity breakdown of Australia's
merchandise trade in recent years. Individual reports show the
detailed composition of trade with all major partners and regions
over the last five years.

Highlights of trade in 1998 include a 10 per cent increase
in the value of Australia's merchandise trade to $185.8 billion,
with exports increasing by 5 per cent to $89.0 billion and imports
increasing by 16 per cent to $96.8 billion. Australia recorded
a merchandise trade deficit of $7.9 billion in 1998.

Also included in the 1998 issue is a feature article on the
impact of the economic situation in East Asia on Australia's
trade in gold. Changes in gold trading had a significant influence
on Australia's merchandise trade balances with the APEC and ASEAN
regions in 1998, where trade deficits were recorded.

Copies of this publication can be purchased, for $40, by contacting
the Market Information and Analysis Unit on:

phone (02) 6261 3114 or

fax (02) 6261 3321

Orders can also be placed via the Departmental website at /publications/statistics.html

The analysis and summary tables from Composition of Trade,
along with the latest available information on trade with East
Asia are also available from the Departmental website at http://www.dfat.gov.au