page_title: Economy of the Australian Capital Territory
section_title: Exports and Imports
hierarchical_section_title: Economy of the Australian Capital Territory / Sectors and Industries / Exports and Imports
caption_attribution_description: English: Time series graph on ACT export and import values since 2012-13, provided by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
context_page_description: The economy of the Australian Capital Territory is the fastest-growing, sixth biggest economy of Australia as of the end of the 2017-18 financial year. Since the introduction of its self-government status in 1989, and with few exceptions in 1992, 1996, and 2014, the ACT economy has exhibited positive growth at a 1991-2018 average of 3.17 percent per year. A vast majority of the economy is concentrated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia, and is composed primarily by service industries, particularly those related to the administration of federal and local government. Construction also contributes to an important part of the economy, boosted by large government-funded projects and an active residential market. In contrast to other Australian states and territories, primary sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and mining, represent a very small proportion of the economy. A negative balance of trade has characterised the ACT economy since 2012-13, with small goods trade and a growing service export industry comprised mainly by education and public administration services.
context_section_description: In 2017-18 total exports stood at A$2,230 million, while imports reached A$2,738 million, with a negative balance of trade of A$508 million. Services account for almost all exports (>99%) and imports (>90%) in the ACT. Since 2012-13, average annual goods and services exports growth has been 9.9%.
  ACT goods exports in 2017-18 have been conformed by coin, raw materials and fishery (A$21 million value), with Switzerland being the main destination. Manufactured products and other finished goods accounts conform most of goods imports (A$265 million value). Education-related services represented 44.2% of services exports, followed by public goods and services (22.5%) and personal travel (11.5%). Public goods and services accounted for a 57.5% share of services imports, while personal and business travel contributing 35.1%
  Services exports have grown by 22 percent since 2015, a notable industry growth in which the international education industry has played a major role. In 2016-17. There were approximately 17,000 international students in Canberra, reflecting an industry economic contribution of A$750 million per year. The ACT education industry has been enhanced by university investments and an active airline industry. By the same coin, tourism has also proved active, with projected economic contributions of $2.5 billion per year from 2020.
caption: Graph of the ACT's external trade between 2012-13 and 2017-18, prepared by DFAT.
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