DATA released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows Queensland has notched up record-breaking merchandise exports for the 15th month in row.
Premier and minister for trade, Annastacia Palaszczuk said that since the government’s election, Queensland’s exports have almost doubled from $44.4bn in the 12 months to January 2015 to $87bn in the 12 months to June 2019, up 17.1% in a year.
“Exports equal trade and trade equals jobs, especially for regional Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
The nominal value of LNG exports rose by 43.4% in the past year – rising from $10.7bn in 2017- 2018 up to $15.4bn in 2018-19.
Exports of metallurgical coal, vital in steel making, reached $30.2bn in 2018-19 – this was up almost $3.5bn, or 12.9% on 2017-18. Thermal coal export values totalled $7.3bn.
The Premier said the figures reflected objectives of trade missions to the United States, Japan, Korea and China where Queensland businesses are assisted to find new markets for Queensland goods.
“There are still a number of large and fast-growing markets in the US and south-east Asia that we would like to target,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Beef exports rose $903m to $5.8bn in 2018-19. This is 18.4% higher than the $4.9bn last year.
Minerals exports increased $1.5bn over the year to $10.8bn in 2018-19, driven by rises in the value of aluminium, zinc, lead and copper.
The value of Queensland’s cotton exports rose by 4.3% on the previous year to $1.1bn, while crops exports were $864m.
The Premier said the outlook for further growth is positive with a second runway opening at Brisbane Airport next year.
The airport already handles 77% of airfreighted exported goods.
