Exports of Primary Products and Manufactures Posted Double-Digit Growth in 2006

Media Release

Australian-produced merchandise exports increased
18 per cent in 2006 according to analysis released today
by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The new DFAT publication, Exports of Primary and Manufactured
Products, Australia 2006, provides a comprehensive analysis of
Australian-produced merchandise trade by level of processing.

Primary Products accounted for 65 per cent of
Australian-produced merchandise exports in 2006. Exports of primary
products rose 16 per cent to $101 billion, reflecting
strong rises in fuels and minerals exports (both unprocessed and
processed).

Unprocessed minerals exports grew 37 per cent in 2006
to $26.8 billion, driven by higher world commodity prices.
Unprocessed fuels rose 7 per cent to $29.9 billion, also
due to higher world prices. Processed primary products were also
higher in 2006. Processed fuel exports increased
26 per cent to $9.4 billion, driven by increased exports
of natural gas. A 31 per cent rise in processed minerals
exports to $6.2 billion was mostly due to higher world prices for
alumina.

Manufactures made up 24 per cent ($36.7 billion) of
Australian-produced merchandise exports in 2006. Within the
manufactures category, exports of simply transformed manufactures
(STM), which consist of mainly basic metal manufactures, increased
33 per cent to $14.4 billion. Exports of elaborately
transformed manufactures (ETM), which include sophisticated
products such as electronic components, office and
telecommunication equipment, motor vehicles and a variety of other
machinery and equipment, rose 8 per cent to $22.3
billion.

Other goods (including gold) increased 35 per cent to $17.6
billion.

Exports of Primary and Manufactured Products, Australia
2006 is part of a series published each year by DFAT, providing
comprehensive information on Australia's international trade
in goods and services. The analysis and summary tables, and an
order form for this publication are available at: www.dfat.gov.au/trade.

From 1 July 2007, the Department's statistical
publications will be made available to the public free-of-charge on
the DFAT website. Should clients wish to obtain printed copies of
these publications, they will be directed from the DFAT website to
an external website, where they can place an order for a hard copy.
For further information, contact (02) 6261 3114, fax (02) 6261 3321
or email statssection@dfat.gov.au.

Media Inquiries: DFAT Media Liaison on 02 6261 1555