INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS - October 2017

FBoS Release No: 87, 2017
28^th December 2017

imtsOct17a Provisional data put the total value of goods imported in October 2017 at $465.4 million while the value of total exports was $210.4 million. (Refer Graph I).

Compared to October 2016, total imports and total exports increased by $74.1 million (18.9%) and by $62.4 million (42.2%) respectively.

The October 2017 trade deficit amounted to $255.0 million compared to $196.8 million a month earlier (September).

HIGHLIGHTS

IMPORTS

imtsOct17b

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]

imtsOct17c

Compared to October 2016, the import categories recording notable increases were:

Mineral products [HS 25-27], up $44.9 million (72.7%) to $106.7 million due to increased imports of gas oil (diesel);
Base metals & articles thereof [HS 72-83], up $15.5 million (55.6%) to $43.2 million due to increased imports of iron and steel;
Machinery & mechanical & electrical appliances & parts thereof [HS 84-85], up 10.8 million (17.9%) to $71.2 million due to increased imports of telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; and
Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits & tobacco [HS 16-24], up $5.7 million (31.9%) to $23.6 million due to increased imports of wine.

Compared to October 2016, the import category recording a notable decrease was:

Vehicles, aircraft & associated transport equipment, thereof [HS 86-89], down $11.2 million (18.3%) to $50.2 million due to decreased imports of vehicles.

imtsOct17d For the month of October 2017, Fiji’s major sources of imports (Refer Graph III) were:

Singapore, up $43.3 million (71.9%) to $103.6 million due to increased imports of gas oil (diesel);
New Zealand, up $3.4 million (4.7%) to $74.2 million due to increased imports of milk and cream;
* China - People’s Republic, down $11.9 million (15.4%) to $65.2 million due to decreased imports of fresh fish;
Australia, up $14.7 million (30.4%) to $63.2 million due to increased imports of oil cake and other solid residues; and
Korea, Republic of, up $13.8 million (123.5%) to $25.0 million due to increased imports of gas oil (diesel).

* 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

imtsOct17e

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]

imtsOct17f

Compared to October 2016, the domestic export categories recording notable increases were:

Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits & tobacco [HS 16-24], up $25.3 million (53.9%) to $72.1 million due to increased exports of sugar; and
Wood, cork & articles thereof & plaiting materials [HS 44-46], up $10.9 million (771.0%) to $12.3 million due to increased exports of woodchips.

Compared to October 2016, there were no notable decreases for domestic export categories.

imtsOct17g For the month of October 2017, Fiji’s major domestic export destinations (Refer Graph V) were:

United Kingdom, up $12.6 million (57.1%) to $34.8 million due to increased exports of sugar;
* Australia, up $1.6 million (7.4%) to $23.3 million due to increased exports of gold;
United States of America, up $2.7 million (13.7%) to $22.0 million due to increased exports of mineral water;
Japan, up $12.0 million (3,433.1%) to $12.4 million due to increased exports of woodchips; and
New Zealand, down $0.5 million (8.7%) to $5.2 million due to decreased exports of all other biscuits except sweet biscuits.

* Domestic export of gold is under query.

RE-EXPORTS

imtsOct17h

The percentage breakdown 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]

imtsOct17i

Compared to October 2016, the re-export category recording a notable increase was:

Mineral products [HS 25-27], up $13.6 million (56.1%) to $37.9 million due to increased re-export of aviation or turbine fuel.

Compared to October 2016, there were no notable decreases for re-export categories.

imtsOct17j For the month October 2017, Fiji’s major re-export destinations (Refer Graph VII) were:

China People’s Republic, up $2.2 million (39.0%) to $7.7 million due to increased re-exports of fresh fish;

Tonga, up $1.4 million (30.5%) to $6.0 million due to increased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
Australia, up $4.1 million (274.4%) to $5.6 million due to increased re-exports of used or reconditioned for mounting on road vehicles;
New Zealand, up $0.1 million (3.2%) to $4.3 million due to increased re-exports of containers for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel; and
New Caledonia, up $3.6 million (45,575.0%) to $3.7 million due to increased re-exports of cigarettes containing tobacco.