INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS - May 2015

FBoS Release No: 50, 2015

27th August 2015

imtsMay15a

Provisionaldata put the value of goods imported in May 2015 at $395.8 million while the value of total exports was $146.3 million. (Refer Graph I).

Compared to May 2014, imports increased by $27.3 million (7.4%) while total exports decreased by $70.2 million (32.4%).

The May 2015 trade deficit amounted to $249.5 million compared to $202.4 million a month earlier.

 

HIGHLIGHTS

IMPORTS

imtsMay15b

The percentage breakdown of major import types as categorized by the Harmonized System (HS) codes are as follows;

Table 1: Major contributors to Imports (FJD Millions)

imtsMay15c

Compared to May 2014, the import category recording a notable increase was:

  • Vehicles, aircraft & associated transport equipment [HS 86-89], up $70.4 million (218.7%) to $102.5 million due to the import of an aircraft.

Compared to May 2014, the import categories recording notable decreases were:

  • Machinery & mechanical & electrical appliances & parts thereof [HS 84-85], down $24.8 million (31.3%) to $54.6 million due to decreased imports of television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders;
  • Vegetable products [HS 06-14], down $17.6 million (55.7%) to $14.0 million due to decreased imports of wheat and meslin and
  • Mineral products [HS 25-27], down $7.5 million (9.9%) to $67.9 million due to decreased imports of gas oil (diesel).

Graph II is relevant.

imtsMay15d

For the month of May 2015, Fiji’s major sources of imports (Refer Graph III) were:

  • Singapore, down $19.7 million (25.0%) to $58.9 million due to decreased imports of gas oil (diesel);
  • New Zealand, up $0.9 million (1.7%) to $57.3 million due to increased imports of potatoes;
  • China – People’s Republic, up $1.7 million (3.5%) to $49.8 million due to increased imports of safety fuses, detonating fuses, percussion or detonating caps, igniters, electric detonators;
  • Australia, down $19.4 million (30.0%) to $45.2 million due to decreased imports of wheat and meslin and
  • Japan, up $2.2 million (18.5%) to $14.0 million due to increased imports of gas oil (diesel).

 

 

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

imtsMay15e

The percentage breakdown of major domestic export types as categorized by the Harmonized System (HS) codes are as follows;

Table 2: Major contributors to Domestic Exports (FJD Millions)

imtsMay15f

Compared to May 2014, the domestic export category recording a notable decrease was:

  • Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits & tobacco [HS 16-24], down $31.1 million (50.4%) to $30.5 million due to decreased exports of sugar.

Compared to May 2014, there were no notable increases for domestic export categories.

imtsMay15g

For the month of May 2015, Fiji’s major domestic export destinations (Refer Graph V) were:

  • United States of America, up $5.1 million (24.4%) to $26.0 million due to increased exports of mineral water;
  • *Australia, down $4.8 million (29.2%) to $11.5 million due to decreased exports of gold;
  • China - People’s Republic, up $1.9 million (26.2%) to $9.1 million due to increased exports of woodchips;
  • New Zealand, down $0.4 million (8.8%) to $4.7 million due to decreased exports of kava and
  • Vanuatu, up $0.7 million (22.2%) to $4.0 million due to increased exports of corned meat of bovine animals.

 

 

 

* Domestic export of gold is under query.

RE-EXPORTS

imtsMay15h

The percentage breakdown of major re-export types as categorized by the Harmonized System (HS) codes are as follows;

Table 3: Major contributors to Re-exports (FJD Millions)

imtsMay15i

Compared to May 2014, the re-export categories recording notable decreases were:

  • Mineral products [HS 25-27], down $24.5 million (46.0%) to $28.8 million due to decreased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
  • Machinery & mechanical & electrical appliances & parts thereof [HS 84-85], down $9.6 million (79.8%) to $2.4 million due to decreased re-exports of television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders and
  • Live animals: animal products [HS 01-05], down $5.1 million (22.4%) to $17.8 million due to decreased re-exports of fresh fish.

Compared to May 2014, there were no notable increases for re-export categories.

imtsMay15j 

For the month of May 2015, Fiji’s major re-export destinations (Refer Graph VII) were:

  • China – People’s Republic, up $2.5 million (51.8%) to $7.4 million due to increased re-exports of fresh fish;
  • Tonga, up $0.1 million (1.4%) to $7.0 million due to increased re-exports of light oils and preparations;
  • Kiribati, down $0.8 million (12.6%) to $5.4 million due to decreased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
  • Australia, down $7.3 million (66.0%) to $3.9 million due to decreased re-exports of container for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel and
  • Papua New Guniea, up $0.2 million (9.6%) to $2.8 million due to increased re-exports of garments.

CLICK HERE FOR RELATED TABLES

For further enquiries please contact Mrs. Veenita Miller on email or telephone 331 5822 (ext. 386 241) or direct line 323 0841.

The International Merchandise Trade Statistics for June 2015 will be released in September 2015.