The line graph illustrates the percentages of Australian exports to four countries—Japan, the United States, China, and India—from 1990 to 2012.
Overall, the data reveals a significant upward trajectory for Chinese exports, contrasting with a decline from Japan and fluctuating trends observed in the United States and India.
In 1990, Australian exports were predominantly directed towards Japan, accounting for approximately 12% of the total, followed by the United States and China at around 6%, and India slightly below 5%. By 1995, there was a notable increase in exports to Japan, reaching about 17%, while the figures for the United States and India remained relatively stable at 6% and 5%, respectively. By the year 2000, exports to Japan peaked at 20%, whereas the United States experienced a decrease to around 5%. In contrast, exports to China rose to 10% and to India, they climbed to about 6%. By 2005, exports to Japan slightly declined to 19%, while China surpassed the United States for the first time, with exports reaching 15% compared to the US’s 14%, as exports to India remained constant at 6%.
By 2010, a significant shift occurred as Chinese exports dramatically surged to 25%, overtaking Japan’s exports, which were recorded at 20%. The United States experienced a further decline to 11%, while India saw a mild increase to 7%. In 2012, China continued its ascent, peaking at 28%, while exports to the United States fell to 10%. Japan’s exports plateaued at 19%, and India showed a gradual increase to 9%, thereby illustrating the varied export trends across these nations over the 22-year period.