Strong Export Performance from the Manufacturing Sector in March 2007

Exports of manufactures rose 7 per cent to $11.6 billion in the March quarter of 2007 - more than offsetting falls in exports of rural goods (down 5 per cent to $6.2 billion), the Australian Government Minister for Trade, Warren Truss, said today.

Mr Truss said that exports of services were also up 2 per cent to $11.7 billion. Exports of minerals and fuels declined marginally.

“Overall, the value of exports of goods and services rose 1.5 per cent to $54.4 billion in the March quarter. This was the 15^th consecutive quarterly rise in export values and followed rises of 0.5 per cent in December and 1 per cent in September 2006. For the 12 months to March 2007, exports rose 13 per cent to $214 billion,” Mr Truss said.

Australia’s continued strong export performance is highlighted in the Winter 2007 issue of Trade Topics: A Quarterly Review of Australia’s International Trade, released today. Trade Topics is published by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The Winter 2007 issue of Trade Topics features a number of trade-related articles including the June launch of the 2007 Trade Statement, the emerging positive trends in Australia’s trade with the United States and how the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement has been supporting growth in the trade relationship.

Another article looks at trade and investment links between Australia and Chile and the potential gains from a free trade agreement. The final article examines recent trends in trade between Australia and the European Union, highlighting the EU’s recent expansion to include some of the fastest-growing economies in Europe and its implications for Australian businesses.

Australia is hosting APEC in 2007, culminating in the APEC Leaders’ Meeting on 8-9 September. In this issue of Trade Topics, the priorities for the Leaders Meeting are examined and there is also a brief update on Australia’s trade with the APEC region.

Trade Topics, brings together a range of statistical information produced by Australian Government agencies and international organisations, together with analysis of the latest trade developments. The publication is designed to keep Australians informed of market conditions and trends. Trade Topics includes quarterly and annual data on Australia’s trade in goods and services by commodity, market, level of processing, and State and Territory as well as selected macroeconomic, commodity price and investment information.

The publication is one of a series of trade publications published each year by DFAT. Full electronic versions of the publications are now available free-of-charge at www.dfat.gov.au/publications/stats.html. There is a link to purchase hard copies. For further information, call 02 6261 3114 or email statssection@dfat.gov.au.

Media Inquiries: Minister Truss' office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555