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About Sydney and NSW > Trade and Investment

Merchandise Exports

Mining commodities were the top three merchandise exports in New South Wales' in 2006-07. Coal, non-ferrous metals (aluminium and copper), and metalliferous ores and metal scrap (mainly copper ores and concentrates) made up 37% of total exports in 2006-07.

High-tech manufactured goods, including medicinal and pharmaceutical products, miscellaneous manufactured articles such as gaming machines, hearing devices, recorded media, and professional and scientific instruments, figured among the top 10 commodity groups in 2006-07.

New South Wales's exports of agricultural commodities including rice, wheat and cotton, and processed foods and beverages are significant, reflecting the diversity of the New South Wales economy. Exports of agricultural commodities are expected to grow strongly in 2008 as better weather conditions lead to increased production.

Just outside the State's top 10 exports are wine, iron and steel, industrial machinery, electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances – this latter group includes photosensitive devices, printed circuits and white goods.


Top 10 Merchandise Exports - Australia and New South Wales, 2006-07

  Australia (1) New South Wales (2)
Commodity A$ million % of total Aust. exports Commodity A$ million % of total NSW exports
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap 34,781 20.7 Coal, coke and briquettes 4,894 17.4
Coal, coke and briquettes 21,927 13.0 Non-ferrous metals 3,053 10.9
Non-ferrous metals 13,737 8.2 Metalliferous ores and metal scrap 2,509 8.9
Petroleum and petroleum products 10,673 6.3 Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 1,846 6.6
Gold, non-monetary (3) 10,559 6.3 Meat and meat preparations 1,293 4.6
Meat and meat preparations 7,079 4.2 Petroleum and petroleum products 1,241 4.4
Gas, natural and manufactured 6,263 3.7 Miscellaneous manufactured articles (5) 999 3.6
Cereals and cereal preparations 4,171 2.5 Textile fibres and their wastes (4)  980 3.5
Medicinal and pharmaceutical products 3,758 2.2 Professional and scientific instruments (6) 857 3.1
Road vehicles 3,730 2.2 Cereals and cereal preparations 730 2.6
Sub-total 116,678 69.4 Sub-total 18,402 65.6
Total 168,139 100.0 28,073 100.0



Footnotes:
1: Australian exports include re-exports.
2: New South Wales' exports exclude re-exports (re-export data for New South Wales not available by commodity). According to ABS National Accounts figures, total New South Wales' merchandise exports, including re-exports, were A$31,692 million in 2006-07.
3: Excludes gold ores and concentrates.
4: Not elsewhere specified under a Division of the Standard International Trade Classification (SITC Rev 3).
5: Textiles not manufactured into yarn or fabric (mainly cotton and wool).
6: Professional, scientific and controlling instruments and apparatus.

Source: ABS data on request (preliminary), November 2007.