Media release from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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Australia's exports continue to grow, rising 15 per cent in 2005. Analysis released today by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) shows that Australian-produced goods were worth $131.6 billion (up 19 per cent) and services exports were worth $35.0 billion (up 4 per cent).
The new DFAT publication, Exports of Primary and Manufactured Products, Australia 2005, provides a comprehensive analysis of Australian-produced merchandise trade by level of processing.
Primary Products account for 66 per cent of Australia's merchandise exports. Exports of primary products rose 24 per cent to $87.1 billion in 2005, reflecting strong rises in fuels and minerals exports (both unprocessed and processed) and higher processed foods exports.
Unprocessed fuels exports grew 53 per cent in 2005 to $28.1 billion, driven by higher commodity prices for coal and crude petroleum exports. Unprocessed minerals rose 54 per cent to $19.3 billion in 2005, largely due to higher exports of metalliferous ores such as iron, copper, zinc and lead ores.
Processed primary products were also higher in 2005. Processed food exports rose 2 per cent to $14.8 billion, largely driven by higher meat (particularly lamb), wine and dairy exports, while processed fuel exports rose 37 per cent to $7.4 billion. A 12 per cent rise in processed minerals exports to $4.7 billion was mostly due to higher alumina exports.
Exports of manufactured products rose 10 per cent to $31.5 billion in 2005. Manufactures made up 24 per cent of all Australian-produced merchandise exports in 2005. Within the manufactures category, exports of simply transformed manufactures (STM), which consist of mainly basic metal manufactures, rose by 9 per cent to $10.8 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 by 10 per cent to $20.7 billion.
Exports of Primary and Manufactured Products, Australia 2005 is part of a series published each year by DFAT, providing comprehensive information on Australia's international trade in goods and services. DFAT also offers a customised consultancy service, producing reports tailored to specific requirements. For further information contact (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/trade.
Media Inquiries: DFAT Media Liaison on 02 6261 1555