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Section Eleven
Manufacturing
11.1 Description of the sector
E-commerce raises questions for the Australian manufacturing sector as to
how to take advantage of the possibilities for more market-responsive
production processes and leaner inventory levels and whether to use the
Internet to sell directly to customers or develop new distribution
relationships with wholesalers and retailers.
In Australia, the major manufactured goods are machinery and electrical
equipment products; food, beverages and tobacco; and metal products.
The manufacturing sector contributed $69 billion to GDP in 1997–98, or
13.2 per cent. It is Australia’s largest industry sector.
Figure 11.1
Manufacturing industry gross value added, 1997–98
Other manufacturing
Textile, clothing, footwear and leather
Wood and paper products
Non-metallic mineral products
Petroleum, coal, chemical, etc
Printing, publishing and recorded media
Metal products
Food, beverage and tobacco
Machinery and equipment
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
$ billion
Source: National Income, Expenditure and Product, ABS 5206.0, December Quarter 1998.
In total, manufacturing industries employed over 945 000 people as at
the end of June 1997.
Table 11.1
Employment in manufacturing industries in Australia, as at June 1997
Industry classification No. of employees ‘000
Food, beverage and tobacco 164.0
Textile, clothing, footwear and leather 77.0
Wood and paper product 61.5
Printing, publishing and recorded media 96.7
Petroleum, coal, chemical and associated product 93.4
Non-metallic mineral product 37.1
Metal product 150.2
Machinery and equipment 207.5
Other manufacturing 57.9
Total 945.3
Source: Manufacturing Industry, ABS 8221.0, 1996–97.
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