Trade statistics
In addition to our statistical trade publications, DFAT publishes detailed time series datasets of Australian trade and investment data.
About adjustments to Australian Bureau of Statistics data
To produce the most accurate datasets possible, we make several adjustments to the monthly trade statistics published by the ABS.
These adjustments are outlined in the document below. We recommend reading this document carefully before using our time series data.
- DFAT adjustments to ABS official trade data [PDF 375 KB]
- DFAT adjustments to ABS official trade data [DOCX 220 KB]
A second document – Appendix A – shows which countries have actually reported import and export totals for each six-month period. We strongly recommend referring to Appendix A when interpreting our time series data, especially the country and commodity pivot tables.
- Appendix A – actual export/import partner country data [PDF 325 KB]
- Appendix A – actual export/import partner country data [XLSX 70 KB]
Last updated: March 2023.
Direction of goods and services trade
These datasets contain detailed statistics on Australia's annual goods and services trade with the rest of the world. Datasets are available for both calendar and financial years.
- Australia's direction of goods and services trade – calendar years from 1989 to present [XLSX 3.7 MB]
Last updated: September 2024 using custom data associated with ABS Balance of Payments and International Investment Position (June 2024), International Trade in Goods (July 2024) and International Trade: Supplementary Information, Calendar Year. - Australia's direction of goods & services trade – financial years from 2006-07 to present [XLSX 4 MB]
Last updated: April 2025 using custom data associated with ABS Balance of Payments and International Investment Position (Reference period: Dec 2024), International Trade in Goods, Australia (Reference period: Jan 2025) and International Trade: Supplementary Information, Financial Year (Reference period: 2023-24 financial year).
Historical trade data
Historical Direction of goods and services trade
This dataset is a legacy historical file of the direction of goods and services trade on a financial year basis. It complements the Direction of goods and services trade financial year file.
Australia's direction of goods & services trade – financial years from 1989-90 to 2005-06 [XLSX 1.8 MB]
Last updated: February 2024 using ABS International Trade in Goods, Australia (September 2023 data), Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia (September 2023) and International Trade: Supplementary Information, Financial Year 2022-23.
DFAT has compiled historical Australian merchandise trade data dating back to 1901, with some series going back to 1826. All series in this dataset end in 2016-17. For more recent data, including any past revisions, please access the Direction of goods and services trade datasets.
For a historical overview of Australian trade, please download our statistical article Australia's trade since Federation [PDF 2.4 MB].
Explanatory notes
The following documents provide more background on the historical dataset:
- Explanatory notes [PDF 554 KB]
- Explanatory notes [DOCX 247 KB]
- Historical country economy map [XLSX 85 KB]
Australia's trade through time
This website documents milestones in Australia's trading history. Snapshot historical information is provided on trade prior to Federation in 1901 and then on a decade-by-decade basis from 1900 to the present. The interactive timeline allows students, researchers and members of the general public to access tailored information about Australia's trade history in a dynamic and engaging way.