Cars Into the Top Ranks of Australia's Exports

The Hon Mark Vaile, MP

Minister for Trade, Australia

Media releases

Tuesday 11 June 2002 - MVT060/2002

Cars Drive Into the Top Ranks of Australia's Exports

Australia’s automotive exports reached a record $4.9 billion in 2001 and motor vehicle exports made it into Australia’s top 10 exports for the first time, Trade Minister Mark Vaile announced today.

Mr Vaile said passenger motor vehicle exports had increased by 35 per cent to $3.1 billion in 2001, rising to 10th spot in Australia’s exports.

“Australia’s major markets for passenger motor vehicle exports included Saudi Arabia ($1.4 billion); the United States ($591 million); New Zealand ($364 million); the United Arab Emirates ($206 million); and Kuwait ($186 million),” Mr Vaile said.

The figures are included in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publication Composition of Trade, Australia, 2001, released today.

“Exports of total goods and services rose by eight per cent to $153.7 billion in 2001,” Mr Vaile said.

“Merchandise exports rose 11 per cent to $122.5 billion. Among the strong performers were coal exports, which rose 34 per cent to $12.5 billion, exceeding $12 billion for the first time. Beef exports also performed strongly, rising by 26 per cent to $4.9 billion, the first year that they have returned more than $4.5 billion.

“Exports of manufactures rose eight per cent during the year and have grown at an average annual rate of eight per cent over the last five years.

“The strong export outcome in 2001 gave Australia a trade surplus with the APEC region of $6.3 billion, an impressive turnaround on the slight deficit that occurred in the previous year.”

Mr Vaile said Composition of Trade, Australia, 2001, provides a comprehensive analysis of the growth, direction and commodity breakdown of Australia's merchandise exports in recent years, as well as overall details of services trade.

Individual reports detail composition of merchandise trade with Australia’s major trading partners and regions over the past five years.

Copies of the publication can be purchased ($48.00) from the Market Information and Analysis Unit on Ph (02) 6261 3114 or Fax (02) 6261 3321. The main features and analysis from the report will be available on the department's website at www.dfat.gov.au/publications/statistics.html. Orders for the publication can also be placed at this site.

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