International markets & contacts

Exports from NSW were valued at $54 billion in 2009 consisting of $33 billion in goods and $21 billion in services.

Japan, Korea, the United States, China and New Zealand make up the State’s top five export destinations.

NSW exports are dominated by coal and coke to Japan and have been to varying degrees for at least a decade. Exports of coal and coke to Japan constituted more than half the value of all merchandise exports to Japan in 2008-09. Exports from NSW to China constitute 7 per cent of total merchandise exports from the State, behind Korea and the United States.

Asia

Regionally, Asia is by far the largest market for New South Wales' merchandise exports. The State's export performance from year to year is therefore heavily dependent on the strength of the major economies in the region, including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, as well as the ASEAN group of nations.

New South Wales' share of exports to Asia has grown markedly in the past couple of years, driven largely by exports of mineral resources, particularly coal. New South Wales exports to other regions have grown strongly although at a slower rate. The regional composition of trade underlies the importance of Asia, and the emerging economies of China and India, as a trading partner to New South Wales and Australia.

Free Trade Agreements

Australia has Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United States, Thailand, Singapore, New Zealand, Chile and the 10 members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Australia is currently negotiating or considering negotiating a number of new Agreements with countries including Japan, China, Malaysia, Korea, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Indonesia, India, the Pacific Islands and a Trans-Pacific Partnership including Brunei Darussalam, Peru and Vietnam. FTAs with these countries are expected to provide substantial economic benefits for Australia through improved access to markets.