International Merchandise Trade Statistics

The country’s total imports recorded in October 2017 reached their highest point compared to the total imports in the previous months of the year. This is according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in their report on the International Merchandise Trade Statistics for October 2017. The total value of goods imported in October 2017 is $465.4 million, while the value of total exports is $210.4 million. When compared to October 2016, the total imports increased by $74.1 million (18.9 per cent) whereas the total exports increased by $64.4 million (42.2 per cent) respectively. The October 2017 trade deficit amounted to $255.0 million compared to $196.8 million on September.

Imports

The import of mineral products in October 2017 was the highest, totalling to $106.7 million, compared to the other commodities for both October 2016 and October 2017. This is a $44.9m increase due to imports of gas oil, according to the bureau.

The total imports of base metals and articles increased by $15.m (55.6 per cent) to $43.2m due to imports of iron and steel. The total value of imported machinery, mechanical and electrical appliances and parts reached $71.2m due to the increase in imports of telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks. This is a $71.2m increase compared to October in the previous year.

The increase in the total value of prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits and tobacco were due to increased imports of wine.

Its total value of for October 2017 is $23.6 million, a $5.7m increase compared to the previous year.

Compared to October 2016, the bureau noted that the import category recorded a notable decrease in the import of vehicles, aircraft and associated transport equipment.

A total of $50.2m was recorded, a $11.2m decrease due to a decrease in import of vehicles

Domestic Exports

Compared to October 2016, the domestic export categories recorded a notable increase in the prepared foodstuff, beverages, spirits and tobacco.

A total of $72.1m was recorded in October 2017, a $25.3m increase (53.9 per cent), due to increased exports of sugar.

Also, the imports of wood, cork, articles and planting materials totalled to $12.3m, a $10.9m increase (771.0 per cent), due to an increase in exports of woodchips.

For October 2017, the major domestic export destinations were:

United Kingdom- $34.8m due to increased exports of sugar. This is an increase of $12.6m.

Australia- $23.3m due to increased exports of gold. This is an increase of $1.6m.

USA- $22m due to increased exports of mineral water, an increase of $2.7m.

Japan- $12.4m due to increased exports of woodchips, an increase of $12m.

New Zealand- $5.2m, due to a decrease in exports of all other biscuits except sweet biscuits, a $0.5m decrease.

Re-exports

For October 2017, the major re-export destinations are as follows:

People’s Republic of China- $7.7m, a $2.2m increase due to re-exports of fresh fish.

Tonga- $6m, a $1.4m increase due to reexports of gas oil (diesel).

Australia- $5.6m, a $4.1m increase due to increased re-exports of used or reconditioned for mounting on road vehicles.

New Zealand- $4.3m, a $0.1m increase due to the increase of re-exports of containers for compressed or liquefied gas, of iron or steel.

New Caledonia- $3.7m, a $3.6m increase due to increase in re-exports of cigarettes containing tobacco.