The line graph illustrates the percentage of Australian exports to four different countries — Japan, the US, China, and India — between 1990 and 2012.
Overall, Japan was the biggest importer of Australian goods in 1990, but its share declined over the years. In contrast, China showed a dramatic increase in imports from Australia and became the largest export destination by 2012. Meanwhile, exports to the US and India showed more fluctuations.
At the beginning of the period, in 1990, Japan received the highest percentage of exports, accounting for around 27%. However, this figure steadily dropped and reached about 18% by 2012. The US started at approximately 11%, decreased slightly until the mid-1990s, and then fluctuated around 10% to 12%, finally ending at about 10%.
On the other hand, China started with a low percentage of about 2% but witnessed significant growth, especially after 2000. By 2012, China had become Australia’s largest export market, reaching nearly 30%. Exports to India were also low at the beginning (around 1-2%), grew gradually, peaked at about 8% in 2008, and then declined to around 5% by the end of the period.
In summary, while exports to Japan and the US declined or remained stable, exports to China increased sharply. India’s share also grew but showed more variation in the later years.