Exporting

All the tools and resources you need to export your goods across the world

Prehistoric settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia at least 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession of the east coast in the name of Great Britain (all of Australia was claimed as British territory in 1829 with the creation of the colony of Western Australia). Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the Allied effort in World Wars I and II.

Location

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Natural Resources

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, rare earth elements, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Population - distribution

21515754
English 76.8%, Mandarin 1.6%, Italian 1.4%, Arabic 1.3%, Greek 1.2%, Cantonese 1.2%, Vietnamese 1.1%, other 10.4%, unspecified 5% (2011 est.)
Sydney 4.505 million; Melbourne 4.203 million; Brisbane 2.202 million; Perth 1.861 million; Adelaide 1.256 million; CANBERRA (capital) 423,000 (2015)
Conventional long form
Commonwealth of Australia
Conventional short form
Australia
Local long form
Local short form
parliamentary democracy (Federal Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Name
Canberra
Geographic coordinates
35 16 S, 149 08 E
Time difference
UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends first Sunday in April
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Following two decades of continuous growth, low unemployment, contained inflation, very low public debt, and a strong and stable financial system, Australia enters 2017 facing a range of growth constraints, principally driven by the sharp fall in global prices of key export commodities. Demand for resources and energy from Asia and especially China has stalled and sharp drops in current prices have impacted growth.
Inflation
1.277%
Total tax rate (% of commercial profits)
47.6%
Real Interest Rate
5.858%
Manufacturing, value added (% of GDP)
6.571%
Current Account Balance
US$ -32,893,071,299
Labor Force, Total
12,640,432
Employment in Agriculture
2.64%
Employment in Industry
19.48%
Employment in Services
77.97%
Unemployment Rate
5.74%
Imports of goods and services
US$ 253,978,763,686
Exports of goods and services
US$ 227,285,035,702
Total Merchandise Trade
32.08%
FDI, net inflows
US$ 41,951,351,112
Commercial Service Exports
US$ 52,446,709,389
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel
Commodities
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
Partners
China 32.2%, Japan 15.9%, South Korea 7.1%, US 5.4%, India 4.2% (2015)
Commodities
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products
Partners
China 23%, US 11.2%, Japan 7.4%, South Korea 5.5%, Thailand 5.1%, Germany 4.6% (2015)
Country Risk Rating
A2
The political and economic situation is good. A basically stable and efficient business environment nonetheless leaves room for improvement. Corporate default probability is low on average.
Business Climate Rating
A1
The business environment is very good. Corporate financial information is available and reliable. Debt collection is efficient. Institutional quality is very good. Intercompany transactions run smoothly in environments rated A1.
  • Geographic proximity to emerging Asia
  • Mining resources
  • Moderate public debt
  • Specific geographic features which favor tourism
  • Vulnerable to commodities cycle (specifically iron ore and coal) and Chinese demand
  • Substantial household debt (185% of gross disposable income)
  • Shortage of skilled labor
  • Highly exposed to natural hazards
  • Wide disparities between federated States

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