The following product groups represent the highest dollar value in Australia’s import purchases during 2020. Also shown is the percentage share each product category represents in terms of overall imports into Australia.

1. Machinery including computers: US$30.7 billion (15.1% of total imports)
2. Electrical machinery, equipment: $24.1 billion (11.9%)
3. Vehicles: $23.9 billion (11.8%)
4. Mineral fuels including oil: $16.9 billion (8.3%)
5. Pharmaceuticals: $8.7 billion (4.3%)
6. Gems, precious metals: $8.7 billion (4.3%)
7. Optical, technical, medical apparatus: $8 billion (4%)
8. Plastics, plastic articles: $6.2 billion (3%)
9. Furniture, bedding, lighting, signs, prefabricated buildings: $4.7 billion (2.3%)
10. Articles of iron or steel: $4.5 billion (2.2%)

Australia’s top 10 imports accounted for over two-thirds (67.3%) of the overall value of its product purchases from other countries.

The fastest increases in value among the top 10 import categories from 2019 to 2020 belong to gems and precious metals (up 31.3%), plastic material and items made from plastic (up 5.7%) and pharmaceuticals (up 3.9%).

Leading the decliners were Australian imports of mineral fuels including oil (down -37.6%).

Please note that the results listed above are at the 2-digit Harmonized Tariff System code level. Information presented under other virtual folder tabs is at the more granular 4-digit level.

In 2020, Australian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of machinery.

1. Computers, optical readers: US$7.1 billion (up 6% from 2019)
2. Heavy machinery (bulldozers, excavators, road rollers): $1.7 billion (down -8.5%)
3. Machinery parts: $1.5 billion (up 4.3%)
4. Taps, valves, similar appliances: $1.3 billion (up 1.6%)
5. Centrifuges, filters and purifiers: $1.2 billion (up 12.1%)
6. Refrigerators, freezers: $1.1 billion (up 8%)
7. Air conditioners: $1 billion (up 3.5%)
8. Turbo-jets: $1 billion (down -5.1%)
9. Miscellaneous machinery: $918.9 million (down -11.1%)
10. Liquid pumps and elevators: $851.4 million (down -5.4%)

Among these import subcategories, Australian purchases of centrifuges, filters and purifiers (up 12.1%), refrigerators and freezers (up 8%) then computers including optical readers (up 6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported machinery among Australian businesses and consumers.

In 2020, Australian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of mineral fuel-related products.

1. Processed petroleum oils: US$11.4 billion (down -35.4% from 2019)
2. Crude oil: $4.7 billion (down -44.9%)
3. Petroleum oil residues: $467.3 million (down -14.7%)
4. Petroleum gases: $156.3 million (up 11.1%)
5. Coke, semi-coke: $56.9 million (down -37.7%)
6. Tar pitch, coke: $36.6 million (down -36.8%)
7. Petroleum jelly, mineral waxes: $28.8 million (up 1.2%)
8. Coal, solid fuels made from coal: $28.6 million (down -20.5%)
9. Coal tar oils (high temperature distillation): $23 million (up 31.9%)
10. Peat: $14.5 million (up 12.1%)

Among these import subcategories, Australian purchases of high temperature distilled coal tar oils (up 31.9%), peat (up 12.1%) then petroleum gases (up 11.1%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported fuel among Australian businesses and consumers.

In 2020, Australian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of vehicles.

1. Cars: US$12.9 billion (down -13.3% from 2019)
2. Trucks: $5.9 billion (down -7.5%)
3. Automobile parts/accessories: $1.8 billion (down -8.4%)
4. Tractors: $888.9 million (up 4.7%)
5. Trailers: $555.1 million (down -0.6%)
6. Motorcycles: $467.6 million (down -1%)
7. Special purpose vehicles: $292.9 million (down -29.6%)
8. Bicycles, other non-motorized cycles: $236.3 million (up 20%)
9. Chassis fitted with engine: $197.9 million (up 45.7%)
10. Armored vehicles, tanks: $163.1 million (down -36.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Australian purchases of chassis fitted with engine (up 45.7%), bicycles and other non-motorized cycles (up 20%) then tractors (up 4.7%) grew from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported vehicles among Australian businesses and consumers.

In 2020, Australian importers spent the most on the following 10 subcategories of electronics-related products.

1. Phone system devices including smartphones: US$7.9 billion (down -3.9% from 2019)
2. TV receivers/monitors/projectors: $1.7 billion (up 0.8%)
3. Electrical converters/power units: $1.3 billion (up 13.6%)
4. Solar power diodes/semi-conductors: $1.2 billion (down -18.8%)
5. Insulated wire/cable: $1.1 billion (down -3.8%)
6. Electric water heaters, hair dryers: $1.1 billion (up 22.9%)
7. Microphones/headphones/amps: $1 billion (up 9.6%)
8. Electric motors, generators: $822.9 million (up 6.5%)
9. Electric storage batteries: $800.6 million (down -6.3%)
10. TV receiver/transmit/digital cameras: $763.7 million (down -6.7%)

Among these import subcategories, Australian purchases of electric water heaters and hair dryers (up 22.9%), electrical converters or power units (up 13.6%) then microphones, headphones and amplifiers (up 9.6%) grew at the fastest pace from 2019 to 2020.

These amounts and the percentage gains within parenthesis clearly show where the strongest demand lies for different types of imported electronics among Australian businesses and consumers.