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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below presents the main features of Fiji’s International Merchandise Trade Statistics for the Month of April 2016.

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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 May 2016 will be released in September 2016.