IT Exports Fall Offset by Domestic Increase

IT Exports Fall Offset by Domestic Increase

Total exports of information technology (IT) goods and services (excluding communication services) decreased 14.9 percent (to $576.3 million) in the 2004 financial year, according to Statistics New Zealand's Information Technology Survey.

This decrease was more than offset by a 2.2 percent increase in the sales of IT goods and services to domestic customers, which reached $6.439 billion. Total sales of IT goods and services (excluding communication services) were valued at $7.015 billion for the 2004 financial year. This is a 0.6 percent increase from the sales recorded in the 2003 financial year.

The 14.9 percent decrease in exports of IT goods and services was mainly the result of a 42.7 percent decrease in exports of communication hardware and cables, and a 4.6 percent decrease in exports of software. The 2.2 percent increase in sales of IT goods and services (excluding communication services) to all New Zealand domestic customers was mainly the result of a $126.5 million increase in software sales (17.4 percent), and an $18.2 million (3 percent) increase in sales of communications hardware and cables.

Total communication services sales decreased $1.7 million to $5,256.1 million (0.03 percent) in the 2004 financial year. Sales of communications services are combined from the export, New Zealand end-user and other New Zealand customers categories in the IT Survey. This aggregation is done to adhere to Statistics New Zealand confidentiality standards.

The Information Technology Survey collects information from businesses that are engaged in the computer wholesaling, telecommunications and computer services industries. Outside these industries, businesses identified as selling IT goods and services were also included. Businesses that employ fewer than two employees are excluded from the survey.

Ian Ewing

Acting Government Statistician

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