Australia's Trade and Investment

Australia's Trade Profile

Australia is a globally integrated, resource-rich economy with a competitive services sector and extensive trade ties, particularly across the Asia-Pacific. International trade remains a cornerstone of Australia's economic performance, with goods and services trade amounting to a significant share of GDP. Australia’s export profile is dominated by mineral and energy commodities, alongside agricultural products and an increasingly dynamic services sector. On the import side, the country relies heavily on high-value manufactured goods, capital equipment, and advanced services. Australia’s major trading partners include China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and India, with China maintaining its position as both the largest export destination and import source.

Australia's trade profile in 2024 reflects the country's strong and evolving international economic engagement. A key structural shift over the past two decades has been the growing prominence of services within the domestic economy. Services now comprise approximately 80% of Australian production, up from 72.8% in the mid-1990s, with a similar rise in the proportion of intermediate inputs sourced from services.

In 2024, Australia recorded a balance on goods and services surplus of AUD 30.2 billion. Merchandise trade data reported a trade surplus of between USD 44.37 billion and USD 57.3 billion, depending on the data source. Exports were valued at around USD 340.9 billion, while imports ranged between USD 283.6 billion and USD 296.5 billion.

What We Trade

Goods Exports

Australia’s export performance is underpinned by its rich endowment of natural resources and strong agricultural capacity. In 2024, goods exports reached US$340.85 billion (approximately A$511 billion), reflecting global demand for Australian commodities and favourable terms of trade. The top goods exports included:

  • Iron ore remains the largest export, with exports worth A$137.9 billion in 2023–24.
  • Coal and LNG follow, at A$91.4 billion and A$68.7 billion respectively.
  • Other major exports include gold (A$32.9 billion), meat (A$12.4 billion), wheat (A$9.9 billion), and crude petroleum.

Collectively, iron ore, coal, and LNG account for nearly half of Australia’s total export value. These exports are highly dependent on demand from East Asia and global commodity price cycles. For instance, coal exports fell 28% in 2023–24 due to price declines. Meanwhile, rural exports rose in early 2025, with meat and cereal exports increasing by over 25%.

Goods Imports

Goods imports reached US$296.48 billion in 2024, driven largely by Australia’s reliance on overseas suppliers for consumer goods, vehicles, industrial equipment, and refined fuels. Major imports included:

  • Motor vehicles are the top import category, with combined passenger and commercial vehicle imports over A$56 billion.
  • Refined petroleum is also significant, at A$51.8 billion.
  • Other major imports include machinery, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals (A$8.9 billion), and computers (A$11.5 billion).

Top import categories:

  • Vehicles other than railway or tramway (15%)
  • Machinery and equipment (14.4%)
  • Mineral fuels and oils (13.3%)
  • Electrical machinery (11%)
  • Pharmaceuticals (3.8%)
  • Optical and photographic apparatus (3.5%)

Imports reflect Australia's limited manufacturing base, with high reliance on foreign production of vehicles, electronics, and industrial goods. Capital goods imports grew 7.5% in April 2025, while intermediate goods like fuels fell due to easing energy prices.

Services Exports

Services exports rose to A$124 billion in 2023–24, or about 19% of total exports:

  • Education-related travel is the largest services export at A$51 billion, with China and India as key source countries.
  • Tourism (personal travel) contributed A$21.7 billion, recovering strongly post-COVID.
  • Other growing sectors include intellectual property charges (A$8.7 billion) and professional services (A$7.9 billion).

Service exports are highly concentrated in travel-related services, underpinned by Australia’s quality education system and natural attractions. Exports exceeded pre-pandemic levels by 12% in 2023.

Services Imports

Services imports rose to A$164.6 billion in 2024, driven by Australians’ spending abroad:

  • Personal travel is the largest services import, reaching A$63 billion in 2023–24.
  • Passenger transport and business travel added A$9 billion and A$6.2 billion respectively.
  • Professional and technical services imports were A$21.8 billion, while intellectual property payments totalled A$14.6 billion.

Australia has a persistent services trade deficit, particularly in travel. Following the pandemic, travel imports surged by 47% in 2023-24 as Australians resumed international holidays, especially to Indonesia, New Zealand, and Europe. Meanwhile, payments for foreign IP and consulting services reflect Australia’s integration into global business networks.

Who We Trade With

Export Partners

Australia's export trade has increasingly oriented towards fast-growing Asian economies since the late 1960s, including Japan, South Korea, and later Mainland China. In 2009, Mainland China overtook Japan to become Australia's largest trading partner, primarily due to its strong demand for natural resources

Top merchandise export destinations (2024):

  1. China: 196 billion
  2. Japan: 75 billion
  3. South Korea: 42 billion
  4. United States: 40 billion
  5. India: 36 billion

Exports to China fell in 2024, but services exports to China rose nearly 21%, reflecting post-pandemic education and tourism recovery.

Import Partners

Imports are also Asia-centric but more diversified across consumer and capital goods.

Top merchandise import sources (2024):

  1. China: 116 billion.
  2. Japan: 32 billion
  3. South Korea: 26 billion
  4. Thailand: 24 billion

For services imports, the US accounted for 25.2% in 2024, with major imports in software, licensing, and business services. Indonesia and New Zealand were key sources of travel service imports, due to their popularity with Australian tourists.

Australia’s trade profile in 2025 highlights a resource-driven export economy and a consumption-driven import economy, deeply tied to the Asia-Pacific. Exports are concentrated in commodities and education services, while imports are centred on high-value manufactures, fuel, and outbound travel.

Sources: ABS. (2024). International Trade: Supplementary Information.