Overseas Merchandise Trade (February 2006) - Media Release
Embargoed until 10:45am ― 27 March 2006
Aircraft Continue to Lift Imports
Exports of merchandise goods for February 2006 are valued at $2,602 million, which is 1.8 percent ($46 million) lower than for February 2005. The main contributor to the reduced exports value is a decrease of $91 million for meat, particularly beef and lamb. Annually, exports for the year ended February have decreased 1.2 percent to $30,709 million.
The monthly trade balance for February 2006 is a deficit of $257 million (9.9 percent of exports). On average, the trade balance for February months over the past decade has been a surplus of 3.3 percent of exports. The annual trade balance for the year ended February 2006 is a record deficit of $7,223 million (23.5 percent of exports). As a percentage, this is the largest deficit for a February year since 1976.