The two bar charts illustrate trade between Australia and China from 1998 to 2004 and the types of goods Australia imported from China in 2003 and 2004.
Overall, Australia both imported and exported increasing amounts of goods over the period, but imports from China were consistently higher than exports to China. In addition, among imported goods, telecommunications equipment and computers showed notable growth between 2003 and 2004.
Looking at the first chart, imports from China rose steadily from about $20 billion in 1998 to approximately $40 billion in 2004. Exports to China also increased, though at a lower level, from roughly $10 billion in 1998 to around $30 billion in 2004. The gap between imports and exports remained evident throughout the period, indicating a trade imbalance in China’s favor.
Regarding the second chart, in 2003, the highest import category was computers (about $5 billion), followed by furniture and telecommunications equipment. By 2004, telecommunications equipment became the largest category at around $8 billion, showing the most significant growth. Imports of toys and sports equipment also rose sharply, from about $2 billion in 2003 to $7 billion in 2004. Meanwhile, clothing imports remained stable at around $4 billion, and furniture and computers experienced moderate increases.
In summary, Australia’s trade with China expanded considerably, with imports dominating exports, and there was a marked rise in the import of technology-related goods.