The line graph illustrates the percentage of Australian exports to four countries—Japan, the US, China, and India—between 1990 and 2012.
Overall, Australian exports to China and India showed an increasing trend, whereas exports to Japan and the US declined over the period. Notably, China experienced the most significant rise, surpassing Japan as the top export destination by the end of the period.
In 1990, Japan was the largest recipient of Australian exports, accounting for approximately 27%. However, this figure steadily declined, falling to about 17% in 2012. Similarly, exports to the US fluctuated between 8% and 12% before gradually decreasing to around 5% by the end of the period.
In contrast, exports to China experienced substantial growth. Starting at around 2% in 1990, they increased steadily until the early 2000s, after which they surged dramatically, peaking at nearly 28% in 2012. Exports to India also grew, albeit more modestly, rising from nearly 0% in 1990 to a peak of about 7% around 2010 before slightly declining.