INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS - August 2016

FBoS Release No: 75, 2016
14th November 2016

imtsAug16aProvisional data put the value of total goods imported in August 2016 at $351.5 million while the value of total exports was $167.8 million. (Refer Graph I).

Compared to August 2015, total imports and total exports decreased by $5.1 million (1.4%) and $40.0 million (19.3%) respectively.

The August 2016 trade deficit amounted to $183.7 million compared to $162.9 million a month earlier (July).


HIGHLIGHTS

IMPORTS

imtsAug16b

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

Table 1: Major contributors to Imports FJD [Millions]

imtsAug16c

Compared to August 2015, the import categories recording notable increases were:

  • Vehicles, aircraft & associated transport equipment [HS 86-89], up $21.1 million (43.3%) to $69.9 million due to increased imports of used or reconditioned passenger motor cars;
  • Vegetable products [HS 06-14], up $7.5 million (70.6%) to $18.0 million due to increased imports of wheat and meslin; and
  • Machinery & mechanical & electrical appliance & parts thereof [HS 84-85], up $5.7 million (10.0%) to $62.7 million due to increased imports of potable automatic data processing machines.

Compared to August 2015, the import category recording a notable decrease was:

  • Mineral Products [HS 25-27], down $48.7 million (42.9%) to $64.9 million due to decreased imports of gas oil (diesel).

 

 

imtsAug16dFor the month of August 2016, Fiji’s major sources of imports (Refer Graph III) were:

  • Singapore, down $17.4 million (20.2%) to $69.1 million due to decreased imports of gas oil (diesel);
  • Australia, up $21.2 million (56.2%) to $58.9 million due to increased imports of wheat and meslin;
  • New Zealand, up $9.7 million (21.8%) to $54.4 million due to increased imports of potatoes;
  • *China - People’s Republic, up $5.3 million (11.5%) to $51.3 million due to increased imports of garments; and
  • Japan, up $33.3 million (235.3%) to $47.5 million due to increased imports of used or reconditioned passenger motor cars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

imtsAug16e

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

Table 2: Major contributors to Domestic Exports FJD [Millions]

imtsAug16f

Compared to August 2015, there were no notable increases for domestic export categories.

Compared to August 2015, the domestic export categories recording notable decreases were:

  • Wood, cork & articles [HS 16-24], down $6.3 million (66.3%) to $3.2 million due to decreased exports of woodchips.
  • Pearls, precious, semi-precious stones & metals [HS 71], down $11.5 million (98.6%) to $0.2 million due to decreased exports of gold; and
  • Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits and tobacco [HS 16-24], down $34.0 million (34.8%) to $63.6 million due to decreased exports of sugar.



imtsAug16gFor the month of August 2016, Fiji’s major domestic export destinations (Refer Graph V) were:

  • United States of America, down $1.8 million (6.1%) to $28.0 million due to decreased exports of sugar;
  • *Australia, down $14.3 million (58.7%) to $10.1 million due to decreased exports of gold;
  • Vanuatu, up $1.7 million (44.2%) to $5.5 million due to increased exports of flour;
  • New Zealand, up $0.6 million (14.2%) to $4.8 million due to increased exports of dalo (taro); and
  • China - People’s Republic, up $0.4 million (12.7%) to $3.9 million due to increased exports of trout.

 

 

 

 

RE-EXPORTS

imtsAug16h

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

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

imtsAug16i

Compared to August 2015, the re-export category recording a notable increase was:

  • Mineral products [HS 25-27], up $16.3 million (55.2%) to $46.0 million due to increased re-exports of aviation turbine fuel.

Compared to August 2015, there were no notable decreases for re-export categories.



imtsAug16jFor the month of August 2016, Fiji’s major re-export destinations (Refer Graph VII) were:

  • Tonga, down $2.1 million (33.9%) to $4.1 million due to decreased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
  • Cook Islands, down $0.8 million (23.0%) to $2.8 million due to decreased re-exports of aviation turbine fuel;
  • Kiribati, down $2.9 million (61.5%) to $1.8 million due to decreased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
  • New Zealand, down $0.4 million (17.2%) to $1.7 million due to decreased re-exports of used or reconditioned mechanical shovels excavators and shovel loaders; and
  • China - People’s Republic, down $0.8 million (35.3%) to $1.6 million due to decreased re-exports of fresh fish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

imtsAug16k

 

CLICK HERE FOR RELATED TABLES

 

For Technical Notes refer to page 24.

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 September 2016 will be released in November 2016.