Overseas Merchandise Trade: September 2012

Embargoed until 10:45am  –  26 October 2012

Sections

Downloads

Media release  – 
Dairy products lead September quarter trade surplus

Key facts

September 2012 quarter:

Values are seasonally adjusted and compared with the June 2012 quarter unless otherwise stated.

  • Exports rose 5.1 percent to $11.9 billion.
  • The increase was led by a rise of 16 percent ($450 million) in the value of milk powder, butter, and cheese. 
  • The trend for exports is 1.8 percent lower than its record high of September 2011. 
  • Imports fell 1.3 percent to $11.8 billion. 
  • The trend for imports is 4.2 percent lower than its peak in the September 2008 quarter. 
  • There was a trade surplus of $147 million (1.2 percent of exports).
 

September 2012 month:

Values are actual and compared with the September 2011 month unless otherwise stated.

  • Exports were down $136 million (3.9 percent) to $3.3 billion.
  • Milk powder, butter, and cheese recorded the largest decrease, down $77 million (11 percent). 
  • Imports fell $133 million (3.1 percent) to $4.1 billion. 
  • There was a trade deficit of $791 million (24 percent of exports).

Graph, Merchandise trend values, quarterly, September 2006 to September 2012.

 

Geoff Bascand 26 October 2012
Government Statistician ISSN 1178-0320

 

Sections

Downloads