The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes official statistics on Australia’s trade in international services, compiled using international standards set out by the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations. The ABS publishes trade in services data on a monthly basis in the publication, International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia (catalogue 5368.0) and on a quarterly basis in the publication Balance of Payments, Australia (catalogue 5302.0). Data that is more detailed is available upon request, although the amount of information (either published or unpublished) is limited, especially when compared with the wealth of data that is available on merchandise trade statistics.

The ABS and other Australian Government departments also publish other services-related data that can be used to provide a more detailed picture of Australia’s trade in services with the world. Users need to keep in mind that such statistics are generally not directly compatible with the ABS reported trade in services statistics because they are not compiled within the framework established by international standards for balance of payment statistics.

This publication presents the detailed official ABS trade in services data as well as a range of other statistics that are available to users interested in Australia’s trade in services.