INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS - April 2016

FBoS Release No: 51, 2016
16th September 2016

imtsApr16a

Provisional data put the value of goods imported in April 2016 at $245.5 million while the value of total exports was $133.3 million. (Refer Graph I).

Compared to April 2015, imports and total exports decreased by $101.9 million (29.3%) and $26.4 million (16.5%) respectively.

The April 2016 trade deficit amounted to $112.2 million compared to $176.4 million a month earlier.

HIGHLIGHTS

IMPORTS

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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]

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Compared to April 2015, there were no notable increases for import categories.

Compared to April 2015, the import categories recording notable decreases were:

Live animals: animal products [HS 01-05], down $28.8 million (72.5%) to $10.9 million due to decreased imports of fresh fish;
Vegetable products [HS 06-14], down $21.2 million (66.6%) to $10.6 million due to decreased imports of wheat and meslin;
Mineral Products [HS 25-27], down $19.1 million (26.3%) to $53.6 million due to decreased imports of gas oil (diesel);
Plastic, rubber articles thereof [HS 39-40], down $8.4 million (50.5%) to $8.3 million due to decreased imports of articles of plastic for the packing of goods;
Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits tobacco [HS 16-24], down $6.4 million (37.7%) to $10.6 million due to decreased imports of sugar;
Chemicals and allied products [HS 28-38], down $5.7 million (27.2%) to $15.2 million due to decreased imports of pharmaceutical products and
Base metals articles thereof [HS 72-83], down $5.7 million (31.2%) to $12.6 million due to decreased imports of iron or steel.

Graph II is relevant.

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For the month of April 2016, Fiji’s major sources of imports (Refer Graph III) were:

Singapore, down $3.4 million (5.8%) to $54.6 million due to decreased imports of gas oil (diesel);
New Zealand, down $19.2 million (30.5%) to $43.6 million due to decreased imports of milk and cream;
Australia, down $29.9 million (43.7%) to $38.6 million due to decreased imports of wheat and meslin;
*China - People’s Republic, down $13.7 million (34.2%) to $26.3 million due to decreased imports of fresh fish and
Japan, up $8.4 million (61.4%) to $22.1 million due to increased imports of vehicles.

* Imports of fresh fish from China – People’s Republic refers to fish caught outside Fiji’s EEZ (High seas) by fishing vessels identified according to the country of registration.

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

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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]

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Compared to April 2015, the domestic export category recording a notable increase was:

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits tobacco [HS 16-24], up $9.9 million (37.2%) to $36.7 million due to increased exports of mineral water.

Compared to April 2015, the domestic export category recording a notable decrease was:

Pearls, precious, semi-precious stones metals [HS 71], down $9.2 million (98.2%) to $0.2 million due to decreased exports of gold.

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For the month of April 2016, Fiji’s major domestic export destinations (Refer Graph V) were:

United States of America, up $7.7 million (32.6%) to $31.5 million due to increased exports of mineral water;
*Australia, down $12.8 million (57.5%) to $9.5 million due to decreased exports of gold;
Japan, up $0.2 million (3.4%) to $7.5 million due to increased exports of woodchips;
New Zealand, up $0.7 million (16.6%) to $4.9 million due to increased exports of taro (dalo) and
China - People’s Republic, down $1.0 million (22.6%) to $3.4 million due to decreased exports of aluminum ores (bauxite).

* Domestic export of gold is under query.

RE-EXPORTS

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

Table 3: Major contributors to Re-exports FJD [Millions]

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Compared to April 2015, there were no notable increases for re-export categories.

Compared to April 2015, the re-export category a recording notable decrease was:

Live animals: animal products [HS 01-05], down $11.8 million (71.8%) to $4.7 million due to decreased re-exports of fresh fish.

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For the month of April 2016, Fiji’s major re-export destinations (Refer Graph VII) were:

Tonga, up $0.2 million (3.3%) to $5.3 million due to increased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
Kiribati, up $0.2 million (4.5%) to $3.7 million due to increased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
China - People’s Republic, down $2.4 million (58.2%) to $1.7 million due to decreased re-exports of fresh fish;
Japan, down $3.0 million (70.4%) to $1.3 million due to decreased re-exports of fresh fish and
New Zealand, down $1.3 million (54.8%) to $1.0 million due to decreased re-exports of other vaccines for human medicines.