Indonesia-Australia trade flows

Indonesia-Australia trade flows

The dream of a speedy link between Surabaya and Australia has
long eluded transport planners, who have worked for decades to
get a direct transport route opened.

Australia exports goods worth about A$3.4 billion (about US$
2.6 billion) to Indonesia and ranks at number six in the list of
suppliers to the country. Top of the list is Singapore, followed
by Japan, China, the U.S. and Thailand.

Australia imports goods worth A$3.3 billion from Indonesia.
Apart from petroleum products, paper and timber are in demand.

Australia also exports petroleum products to the archipelago
along with minerals, live animals and primary produce.

It is difficult to stuff a steer into a container, but
minerals like gold, aluminum ingots and copper are put in
containers. So is cotton. Only unrefined minerals like iron ore
and grains are shipped in bulk.

Australia is number 10 in the list of destinations for
Indonesian goods. Most go to Japan and the U.S.

Indonesia is a major exporter of paper products to Australia.
If you are a journalist or secretary Down Under the chances are
you will be taking notes on a pad made in East Java, using an
Indonesian pen and maybe sitting at a wooden desk crafted in the
archipelago.

Meanwhile, their counterparts in this country are chewing on
Australian steak washed down with a tangy fruit juice.

And the probability is high that all are wearing clothes made
in booming China whose ports are already handling more than 61
million TEUs (containers).

-- Duncan Graham