The given line graph illustrates changes in the percentage of Australian exports to four countries: Japan, the US, China, and India, between 1990 and 2012.
Overall, there are two distinct trends visible in the data: upward and downward movements. Exports to Japan and the US experienced their lowest rates at the end of the period, while exports to China surged in the final decade, and exports to India showed a slight increase.
Despite starting at the bottom, China reached its peak by 2012. Between 1990 and 2000, its exports remained below 5 percent; however, this changed dramatically with a threefold increase within a span of five years from 2000 to 2005, reaching 15 percent. This upward trend continued, with exports nearly doubling in the next five years, ultimately reaching 30 percent by the end of the period. Regarding India, although it had the lowest percentage overall, it did see a modest increase, reaching approximately 6 percent during 2005-2012.
In contrast, Japan initially had the highest percentage, but it plummeted by around 7 percent in the first five years. This downward trend persisted, ultimately declining to 18 percent. Meanwhile, the US exhibited significant fluctuations during the period, mirroring Japan’s trajectory, and experienced a decline that resulted in its percentage dropping to nearly the same level as India’s.