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Trade statistics

Trade time series data

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.

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.

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.

Historical trade and economic data

DFAT maintains historical Australian trade and economic data dating back to 1901, with some series going back to 1826.

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:

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.

Australia's trade through time

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