South Australia’s overseas goods exports in the year to August 2016 totalled $11.3 billion, down 1.2 %, or $134 million, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The latest figures show that while South Australia saw a fall, it again performed substantially better than the national average which latest results show are down 4.4 %, compared with the year to August 2015. Only Tasmania recorded a rise in overseas goods exports in the year to August 2016, up 7.6 %.

A decrease in overseas goods exports in the year to August 2016 was recorded for the Northern Territory (down 22%), Western Australia (down 8%), New South Wales (down 4%), Victoria (down 2.3%), South Australia (down 1.2%) and Queensland (down 0.1%).

Minister for Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith, set to depart for a major international business and food export in Paris, said the figures show that local exports continue to be supported by growth in the value of exports including copper, bulk barley, wine vegetables and fruit.

These gains were offset in falls in the values of resources including wheat, meat, coal and gas.

Key results for the year to June 2016 compared with the year to August 2015 include:

• Copper – up 27% or $275 million;
• Wine – up 11 % or $133 million;
• Vegetables and fruit – up 7.6 % or $40 million
• Petroleum and petroleum products – up 107 % or $97 million

Background

South Australian export markets that experienced growth in the year to August 2016, compared to the previous 12 months included: Middle East, Canada, EU and Japan.

Quotes attributable to Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith

More than 65,000 South Australian jobs are supported by exports and the State Government is committed to seeing this number grow. Continuing growth in trade and exports will lead to a strong economy and job creation.

Trade missions are part of this growth plan. The Premier and I will be attending SIAL this month in Paris, the world’s largest food innovation expo along with a contingent of South Australian food and wine businesses and exporters. One of our key aims is growing bi-lateral trade and cementing existing relationships to enable South Australia to tap into the existing EU consumer market.