Download Page as PDF Printer Friendly Page
About Sydney and NSW > Trade and Investment

Merchandise Exports

Mining commodities were the top three merchandise exports from New South Wales in 2007-08. Coal, non-ferrous metals (aluminium and copper), and metalliferous ores and metal scrap (mainly copper ores and concentrates) made up 38% of total exports in 2007-08.

High-tech manufactured goods, including medicinal and pharmaceutical products, miscellaneous manufactured articles such as medical appliances, gaming machines and sound recording media, and professional and scientific instruments, also figured among the top 10 commodity groups in 2007-08. Just outside the State’s top 10 exports are industrial, electrical and specialised machinery, as well as textile fibres and cereals.

The diversity of the New South Wales economy is further reflected in the significant exports of agricultural commodities, including meat and meat preparations, wine, wool, rice, wheat and cotton. Exports of agricultural commodities are expected to grow strongly in 2008-09 following improvement in the drought conditions which curtailed production in 2007-08.


Top 10 Merchandise Exports - Australia and New South Wales, 2007-08

New South Wales (2)
Australia (3)
Commodity A$ million % of total NSW exports Commodity A$ million % of total Aust. exports
Coal, coke briquettes 6263 20.8 Metalliferous ores and metal scrap 40,405 22.3
Non-ferrous metals 2,751 9.1 Coal, coke briquettes 24,597 13.6
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap 2,391 7.9 Petroleum and petroleum products 13,219 7.3
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 1,901 6.3 Non-ferrous metals 12,611 7.0
Petroleum and petroleum products 1,640 5.4 Gold, non monetary (4) 12,046 6.7
Meat and preparations 1,160 3.9 Gas, natural and manufactured 7,037 3.9
Miscellaneous manufactured articles, nes (5) 1,070 3.6 Meat and meat preparations 6,542 3.6
Professional and scientific instruments (6) 892 3.0 Cereals and cereal preparations 4,973 2.7
Iron and steel 881 2.9 Road vehicles (incl. air-cushion vehicles) 4,591 2.5
Beverages 519 1.7 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 3,948 2.2
Sub-total 19,467 64.7 Sub-total 129,969 71.9
Total 30,091 100.0 180,857 100.0


Footnotes:
1 Trade data based on Customs recorded value.
2 New South Wales’ exports exclude re-exports (re-export data for New South Wales not available by commodity). According to ABS State Accounts figures, total New South Wales’ merchandise exports, including re-exports, were A$,33,845 million in 2007-08. The trade figures in the State Accounts are on a balance of payments basis, which adjusts Customs recorded trade data to record transactions in the period in which ownership changed hands.
3 Australian exports include re-exports.
4 Excludes gold ores and concentrates.
5 Not elsewhere specified under a Division of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev 3).
6 Professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus.

Source: ABS data on request (final), February 2009