Australia’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries

/ By Country / By

The Commonwealth of Australia imported US$202.3 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020, down by -5.6% from $214.3 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of the Australia’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Data is organized by overall metrics then drill down to the Australia’s most valuable imports during 2020 for each of Australia’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for well over two-thirds (69.3%) of Australian import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Australian imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Australia’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Australia amounted to $57.6 billion or 28.5% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a 5.4% gain compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 82.2% of Australia’s imports from mainland China.

  1. Electronic equipment: $12.7 billion
  2. Machinery: $11 billion
  3. Furniture, lighting, signs: $3.4 billion
  4. Plastics: $2.5 billion
  5. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $2.25 billion
  6. Iron or steel products: $2.21 billion
  7. Other textiles, worn clothing: $2.1 billion
  8. Toys, games: $2 billion
  9. Knit or crochet clothing: $1.9 billion
  10. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.7 billion
  11. Vehicles: $1.6 billion
  12. Medical, technical equipment: $1.1 billion
  13. Aluminum: $1 billion
  14. Organic chemicals: $860.3 million
  15. Paper: $779.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from China under the miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing product category via a 144.8% gain in revenue, organic chemicals (up 39.9%), medical or technical equipment (up 20.4%), vehicles (up 16.6%), plastics as a material (up 16.5%) then toys and games (up 15.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -34.2%), knitted or crocheted clothing (down -5.7%) and aluminum (down -4.3%).

Australia’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Australia amounted to $23.7 billion or 11.7% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.8% of Australia’s imports from the United States.

  1. Machinery: $4.7 billion
  2. Vehicles: $2.7 billion
  3. Medical, technical equipment: $2.4 billion
  4. Electronic equipment: $2 billion
  5. Pharmaceuticals: $1.89 billion
  6. Aircraft, spacecraft: $1.88 billion
  7. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.1 billion
  8. Gems, precious metals: $710.4 million
  9. Other chemical goods: $522 million
  10. Rubber: $517.9 million
  11. Plastics: $483.8 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $457.2 million
  13. Iron or steel products: $305.8 million
  14. Other food preparations: $248 million
  15. Meat: $236.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from the United States under the gems and precious metals product category via a 72% gain in revenue, aircraft and spacecraft (up 23.1%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 16.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -26.9%), vehicles (down -15.7%), electronic equipment (down -9.2%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -9.1%) then medical or technical equipment (down -9%).

Australia’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Australia amounted to $12.1 billion or 6% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -18.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.1% of Australia’s imports from Japan.

  1. Vehicles: $7.1 billion
  2. Machinery: $1.6 billion
  3. Mineral fuels including oil: $835.1 million
  4. Rubber: $533.4 million
  5. Electronic equipment: $433 million
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $267.1 million
  7. Iron or steel products: $192.8 million
  8. Gems, precious metals: $177 million
  9. Other chemical goods: $89.5 million
  10. Pharmaceuticals: $73.3 million
  11. Other food preparations: $70.2 million
  12. Plastics: $66.8 million
  13. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $65.3 million
  14. Organic chemicals: $63.9 million
  15. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $45.4 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from Japan under the organic chemicals product category via a 36.1% gain in revenue, iron or steel products (up 9.1%) then miscellaneous chemical goods (up 6.1%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -73.1%), gems and precious metals (down -67.7%), medical or technical equipment (down -18%), electronic equipment (down -12.7%), rubber (down -12%) and salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -10.1%).

Australia’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to Australia amounted to $9.6 billion or 4.7% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.6% of Australia’s imports from Thailand.

  1. Vehicles: $4.1 billion
  2. Machinery: $1.3 billion
  3. Gems, precious metals: $1.2 billion
  4. Electronic equipment: $353.1 million
  5. Rubber: $271.2 million
  6. Meat, seafood preparations: $255.6 million
  7. Plastics: $246.4 million
  8. Perfumes, cosmetics: $189.8 million
  9. Cereal, milk preparations:$134.1 million
  10. Other food preparations: $130.6 million
  11. Iron or steel products: $127 million
  12. Medical, technical equipment: $119.7 million
  13. Food waste, animal fodder: $99.6 million
  14. Cereals: $89.2 million
  15. Vegetable/fruit preparations: $80 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from Thailand under the gems and precious metals product category via a 24.4% gain in revenue, cereals (up 21%), electronic equipment (up 12.5%), miscellaneous food preparations (up 10.8%) then machinery (up 10.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -18.1%) and plastics as a material (down -9.1%).

Australia’s Main Imports from Germany

In 2020, Germany’s exports to Australia amounted to $9.3 billion or 4.6% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -7.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 88% of Australia’s imports from Germany.

  1. Machinery: $2.1 billion
  2. Vehicles: $2 billion
  3. Pharmaceuticals: $1.4 billion
  4. Electronic equipment: $751.4 million
  5. Medical, technical equipment: $715.8 million
  6. Plastics: $265.9 million
  7. Iron or steel products: $160.2 million
  8. Other chemical goods: $130 million
  9. Organic chemicals: $113.7 million
  10. Rubber: $102.2 million
  11. Furniture, lighting, signs: $89.6 million
  12. Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $86 million
  13. Perfumes, cosmetics: $83.5 million
  14. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $80.7 million
  15. Base metal tools, cutlery: $69.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from Germany under the pharmaceuticals product category via a 11.9% gain in revenue then plastics as a material (up 5.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -28.1%), furniture, lighting and signs (down -16.6%) and rubber (down -10.5%).

Australia’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Australia amounted to $6.7 billion or 3.3% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 89.9% of Australia’s imports from Malaysia.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $2.7 billion
  2. Electronic equipment: $877.9 million
  3. Machinery: $711.5 million
  4. Plastics: $300.9 million
  5. Rubber: $228.9 million
  6. Medical, technical equipment: $215.1 million
  7. Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $182.5 million
  8. Furniture, lighting, signs: $132.7 million
  9. Other chemical goods: $127.6 million
  10. Wood: $122.3 million
  11. Fertilizers: $112.7 million
  12. Paper: $108.5 million
  13. Iron or steel products: $80.3 million
  14. Aluminum: $69.8 million
  15. Cereal, milk preparations: $63.5 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from Malaysia under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 153.1% gain in revenue, fertilizers (up 108.9%) then rubber (up 59.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -22.2%), aluminum (down -16.1%) and machinery (down -10.6%).

Australia’s Main Imports from South Korea

In 2020, South Korea’s exports to Australia amounted to $6 billion or 3% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -25.1% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 91.4% of Australia’s imports from South Korea.

  1. Vehicles: $1.8 billion
  2. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.7 billion
  3. Electronic equipment: $676.9 million
  4. Machinery: $406.2 million
  5. Plastics: $169.1 million
  6. Aluminum: $121.8 million
  7. Railway, tram equipment: $100.2 million
  8. Copper: $89.2 million
  9. Rubber: $79.5 million
  10. Iron or steel products: $63.6 million
  11. Paper: $60.4 million
  12. Medical, technical equipment: $50 million
  13. Perfumes, cosmetics: $49.1 million
  14. Cereal, milk preparations: $44.4 million
  15. Other chemical goods: $40.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from South Korea under the railway or tram equipment product category via a 208.7% gain in revenue, miscellaneous chemical goods (up 75.3%), products made from iron or steel (up 23.7%), paper (up 11.6%) then cereal or milk preparations (up 10.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -50.5%), rubber (down -21%), vehicles (down -14.5%) and plastics as a material (down -10.7%).

Australia’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Australia amounted to $5.2 billion or 2.6% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -25.8% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.1% of Australia’s imports from Singapore.

  1. Mineral fuels including oil: $3 billion
  2. Other food preparations: $392.7 million
  3. Machinery: $390.3 million
  4. Electronic equipment: $207.1 million
  5. Medical, technical equipment: $205.8 million
  6. Pharmaceuticals: $138.7 million
  7. Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $112.7 million
  8. Perfumes, cosmetics: $109.8 million
  9. Other chemical goods: $101.7 million
  10. Tobacco: $54.1 million
  11. Plastics: $52.4 million
  12. Organic chemicals: $51.4 million
  13. Paper: $39 million
  14. Books, newspapers, pictures: $36.5 million
  15. Cereal, milk preparations: $30.6 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from Singapore under the tobacco product category via an 8.7% gain in revenue then perfumes and cosmetics (up 5.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil: (down -36.2%), books, newspapers and pictures (down -19.1%), organic chemicals (down -12.6%) then cereal or milk preparations (down -12.1%).

Australia’s Main Imports from New Zealand

In 2020, New Zealand’s exports to Australia amounted to $5 billion or 2.4% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -8.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76% of Australia’s imports from New Zealand.

  1. Dairy, eggs, honey: $542.9 million
  2. Other food preparations: $389.1 million
  3. Beverages: $371.8 million
  4. Mineral fuels including oil: $359.6 million
  5. Gems, precious metals: $350.7 million
  6. Cereal, milk preparations: $341.8 million
  7. Machinery: $290.2 million
  8. Tobacco: $196.5 million
  9. Fruits, nuts: $169.3 million
  10. Wood: $168.3 million
  11. Plastics: $128 million
  12. Paper: $123.4 million
  13. Vegetable/fruit preparations: $114.3 million
  14. Fish: $108.4 million
  15. Electronic equipment: $107.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from New Zealand under the fruits and nuts product category via a 51.3% gain in revenue, then beverages (up 7.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were tobacco (down -44%), mineral fuels including oil (down -25.5%), miscellaneous food preparations (down -16.9%), gems and precious metals (down -14.3%), wood (down -12.1%) and machinery (down -11.7%).

Australia’s Main Imports from the UK

In 2020, the United Kingdom’s exports to Australia amounted to $4.8 billion or 2.4% of overall Aussie imports.

That dollar amount represents a -4.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 84.8% of Australia’s imports from the UK.

  1. Machinery: $816 million
  2. Pharmaceuticals: $666.1 million
  3. Vehicles: $640.4 million
  4. Gems, precious metals: $341.3 million
  5. Medical, technical equipment: $297.8 million
  6. Electronic equipment: $282.8 million
  7. Beverages: $219.3 million
  8. Organic chemicals: $146.2 million
  9. Books, newspapers, pictures: $136.5 million
  10. Plastics: $118.3 million
  11. Cereal, milk preparations: $95.1 million
  12. Perfumes, cosmetics: $85 million
  13. Other chemical goods: $77.8 million
  14. Iron or steel products: $71 million
  15. Other food preparations: $66.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019 to 2020 were for Aussie imports from the United Kingdom under the gems and precious metals product category via a 383.4% gain in revenue, miscellaneous food preparations (up 18.6%) then pharmaceuticals (up 15.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Australia’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -21.6%), books, newspapers and pictures (down -16.7%), beverages (down -16.1%), electronic equipment (down -15.2%), perfumes and cosmetics (down -11.7%) and medical or technical equipment (down -11.3%).

See also

More great research: World’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, China’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products, Australia’s Top 100 Imported Consumer Products

References

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Wikipedia, Australia, Borders of Australia.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

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