Exports of primary products including food, fuels and minerals increased 50.7 percent to $152.2 billion last year, according to Exports of Primary and Manufactured Products 2008, a report released yesterday by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The boost in export earnings came from high prices for coal and iron ore products, which recorded hikes of 123.5 percent and 85.9 percent respectively. Exports from manufactured goods rose 3.1 percent to $40.9 billion.
Our best customers were Japan ($50.5 billion), China ($32.3 billion) and the Republic of Korea ($18.2 billion), the top three largest export markets for Australian produced goods.
