The bar charts illustrate Australia’s trade with China between 1998 and 2004, showing the value of goods imported from China and exported to China, as well as the types of products imported in 2003 and 2004.
Overall, Australia consistently imported far more goods from China than it exported throughout the period. Imports showed a steady upward trend, while exports increased more gradually. In terms of product categories, telecommunication equipment and toys/sports equipment were among the most imported goods.
In 1998, Australia imported just under $20 billion worth of Chinese goods, compared with approximately $10 billion of exports to China. Imports rose steadily each year, reaching around $27 billion in 2001 before climbing sharply to roughly $35 billion by 2004. Exports followed a similar but slower pattern, increasing from about $10 billion in 1998 to around $25 billion by 2004.
The second chart shows that in both 2003 and 2004, telecommunication equipment was the largest import category, rising from around $6 billion to $8 billion. Toys and sports equipment experienced a similar increase, reaching the same level by 2004. Computers were another significant category, growing moderately from roughly $5 billion in 2003 to about $6 billion in 2004. Clothes and furniture also rose slightly, each going from approximately $4 billion to about $5 billion.
In summary, Australia’s imports from China increased substantially over the period, widening the trade gap. By 2004, telecommunications and toys/sports goods represented the biggest share of imported Chinese products.