Major trading partners - Calendar year results

The Northern Territory (NT) is geographically located close to major Asian economies including China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand and as could be expected, these are the NT's major trading partners. The NT also relies on goods imports from the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU), which are also identified as key trading partners. In this section, analysis on the NT's major trading partners is provided by calendar year, for both exports and imports.

China | Japan | Thailand | Malaysia | Singapore | United States of America | Indonesia | Korea | India | Vietnam | Europe

2018

The NT is geographically located close to major Asian economies including China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, and as expected these are the NT’s major trading partners. The NT also relies on goods imports from the United States of America (USA) and the European Union, which are also identified as key trading partners.

Please note, some of the main items of trade have been confidentialised by the ABS due to sensitivity of specific commodities and limited sources of goods and merchandise, which makes suppliers easily identifiable.

Map 1: The Territory’s Major Goods Trading Partners, 2018^{1, 2}

1  Current prices.
2  This map is produced from various sources. Department of Treasury and Finance cannot guarantee the accuracy, currency or completeness of the information. To be used as a guide only.
3  Excluding special administrative regions (Macau and Hong Kong) and Taiwan.
Source: Department of Treasury and Finance, ABS, International Trade in Goods and Services, Cat. No. 5368.0

China

• China was the NT’s second largest export market with exports increasing 19.7% to $2.6 billion, driven by increases in confidential items.
• Imported goods fell 21.5% to $106 million, due to a decrease in imported machinery and equipment.

Japan

• Japan was the NT’s largest export market, overtaking China, with exports increasing 45.2% to $2.6 billion, driven by increases in confidential goods, likely liquefied natural gas.
• Imported goods fell 22.2% to $123 million, due to a decrease in imported petroleum and petroleum-related products.

Taiwan

• Goods exported to Taiwan fell from $7 million to no exports in 2018, driven by a declines in all categories.
• Goods imported increased by 161.5% to $34 million, due to an increase in imported inorganic chemicals.

Thailand

• Goods exported to Thailand fell 12.5% to $244 million, driven by a decrease in petroleum and petroleum products.
• Goods imported fell 9.7% to $65 million, due to decreases in road vehicles.

Malaysia

• Goods exported to Malaysia increased by 94.7% to $148 million, driven by an increase in confidential items.
• Goods imported fell 47.7% to $191 million, due to decreases in petroleum and petroleum‑related products.

Singapore

• Goods exported to Singapore decreased by 56.7% to $13 million, driven by a decrease in inorganic chemicals.
• Goods imported rose 226.0% to $701 million, due to increases in imported petroleum and petroleum products.

Canada

• Goods exported to Canada rose 329.6% to $116 million, overtaking the USA as our largest North American trade partner.
• Imported goods from Canada fell 68.4% to $6 million.

United States of America

• Goods exported to the USA fell 50.6% to $80 million, driven by a decrease in confidential items.
• Goods imported fell 18.7% to $148 million, due to decreases in transport equipment.

Indonesia

• Goods exported to Indonesia rose 28.2% to $386 million, driven by an increase in live animal exports.
• Goods imported increased 62.5% to $13 million, due to decreases in imported iron and steel.

Korea

• Goods exported to Korea rose 82.4% to $445 million, driven by an increase in confidential items (likely liquefied natural gas).
• Goods Imported fell 49.5% to $56 million, due to decreases in imported confidential items.

India

• Goods exported to India fell 44.0% to $108 million, driven by a decrease in confidential items.
• Goods imported was unchanged at $7 million.

Vietnam

• Goods exported to Vietnam rose 76.8% to $168 million, driven by an increase in live animal exports and confidential items.
• Goods imported rose 420.0% to $26 million, due to increases in imported transport equipment.

European Union

The European Union consists of 28 member states, including Austria, Belgium (including Belgium Luxembourg), Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including the French Antilles), Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands (including the Netherlands Antilles), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

• Goods exported to the EU rose 16.0% to $145 million, driven by an increase in confidential items.
• Goods imported fell 41.7% to $176 million, due to decreases in transport equipment and power generating machinery and equipment.