Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 30—International accounts and trade 1037
%
80
60
30.30 AUSTRALIA'S IMPORTS FROM SELECTED COUNTRIES,
Proportion of Total Imports—1900 to 2000
United States of America
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Japan
40
20
0
1900 1925 1950 1975 2000
Source: Trade and Customs Returns (5409.0); Commonwealth Trade (5409.0);
Overseas Trade Part 1, Exports and Imports (5409.0);
Australian Imports, Country by Commodity (5414.0);
International Merchandise Trade (5422.0).
no.
80
60
30.31 AUSTRALIA'S EXPORTS FROM SELECTED COUNTRIES,
Proportion of Total Exports—1900 to 2000
United States of America
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Japan
40
20
0
1900 1925 1950 1975 2000
Source: Trade and Customs Returns (5409.0); Commonwealth Trade (5409.0);
Overseas Trade Part 1, Exports and Imports (5409.0);
Australian Exports; Country by Commodity (5411.0);
International Merchandise Trade (5422.0).
The share of Australia’s total exports going to
the USA rose significantly through the mid
1930s, reaching a peak in the mid 1940s
(graph 30.31). From the 1950s the US share of
Australian exports was fairly steady in trend
terms, but has fallen in recent years. At the turn
of the century, the UK was by far Australia’s
major export destination, receiving nearly 60%
by value of total Australian exports, rising to
70% during the 1930s. It fell sharply during
World War II, recovering somewhat in the
post-war years and in the 1950s. It has trended
down since then.
The share of Australia’s total exports going to
NZ has been increasing slightly over the
century. In 2000 Japan is Australia’s major
export destination. The share of Australia’s total
exports going to Japan grew strongly from the
1950s, peaked in the early 1980s, and has been
declining slowly since.