INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE STATISTICS - May 2016

FBoS Release No: 64, 2016
3^rd October 2016

imtsMay16a

Provisional data put the value of goods imported in May 2016 at $309.5 million while the value of total exports was $119.8 million. (Refer Graph I).

Compared to May 2015, imports and total exports decreased by $86.4 million (21.8%) and $35.5 million (22.9%) respectively.

The May 2016 trade deficit amounted to $189.6 million compared to $112.2 million a month earlier.

HIGHLIGHTS

IMPORTS

imtsMay16b

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]

imtsMay16c

Compared to May 2015, the import category recording a notable increase was:

Vegetable products [HS 06-14], up $6.1 million (43.2%) to $20.0 million due to increased imports of wheat and meslin.

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

Vehicles, aircraft & associated transport equipment [HS 86-89], down $58.2 million (56.8%) to $44.3 million due to decreased imports of aircrafts;
Live animals: animal products [HS 01-05], down $12.6 million (48.2%) to $13.5 million due to decreased imports of fresh fish;
Plastic, rubber & articles thereof [HS 39-40], down $9.2 million (51.4%) to $8.7 million due to decreased imports of articles of plastic for the packing of goods;
Photographic & optical, medical & surgical goods & clocks/watches & musical instruments [HS 90-92], down $6.4 million (65.4%) to $3.4 million due to decreased imports of other instruments and appliances used in dental science;
Chemicals and allied products [HS 28-38], down $5.5 million (25.7%) to $15.9 million due to decreased imports of pharmaceutical products and
Base metals & articles thereof [HS 72-83], down $5.5 million (27.2%) to $14.8 million due to decreased imports of iron or steel.

Graph II is relevant.

imtsMay16d

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

Singapore, up $1.9 million (3.2%) to $60.8 million due to increased imports of gas oil (diesel);
Australia, up $9.9 million (21.9%) to $55.1 million due to increased imports of wheat and meslin;
China - People’s Republic, up $1.5 million (2.9%) to $51.3 million due to increased imports of motor vehicles for the transport of goods;
New Zealand, down $7.0 million (12.2%) to $50.3 million due to decreased imports of milk and cream and
Japan, up $7.7 million (55.1%) to $21.7 million due to increased imports of vehicles.

DOMESTIC EXPORTS

imtsMay16e

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]

imtsMay16f

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

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

Pearls, precious, semi-precious stones & metals [HS 71], down $8.2 million (98.9%) to $0.1 million due to decreased exports of gold and
Wood, cork & articles thereof & plaiting material [HS 44-46], down $7.8 million (68.2%) to $3.6 million due to decreased exports of woodchips.

imtsMay16g

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

United States of America, down $5.1 million (19.0%) to $21.8 million due to decreased exports of mineral water;
*Australia, down $6.6 million (37.3%) to $11.1 million due to decreased exports of gold;
Vanuatu, up $2.5 million (62.5%) to $6.6 million due to increased exports of sweet biscuits;
New Zealand, down $1.8 million (26.7%) to $4.8 million due to decreased exports of gold and
Kiribati, up $2.3 million (232.8%) to $3.2 million due to increased exports of pebbles, gravel, broken or crushed stone.

* Domestic export of gold is under query.

RE-EXPORTS

imtsMay16h

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]

imtsMay16i

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

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

Live animals: animal products [HS 01-05], down $14.2 million (79.7%) to $3.6 million due to decreased re-exports of fresh fish.

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

Tonga, down $3.1 million (44.4%) to $3.9 million due to decreased re-exports of gas oil (diesel);
United States of America, up $0.8 million (38.1%) to $3.0 million due to increased re-exports of television cameras, video cameras and digital cameras;
New Zealand, up $0.4 million (13.7%) to $3.0 million due to increased re-exports of other parts of aeroplanes or helicopters;
Australia, down $1.1 million (29.3%) to $2.7 million due to decreased re-exports of other parts of rock drilling or earth boring tools and
Cook Islands, up $0.7 million (38.9%) to $2.4 million due to increased re-exports of aviation turbine fuel.