2. Imports and Exports
Information in this section is derived from two different areas:
- IT hardware import and exports are measured at the border by the Customs Department as goods leave or enter the country for the 12 months to March 2000, provided by Statistics New Zealand (Statistics New Zealand 2001a);
- A survey of IT businesses is conducted by Statistics New Zealand which measures both IT hardware and software exports (Statistics New Zealand 2001b).
The survey, now in its seventh year, is sponsored by the Ministry of Economic Development, the Information Technology Association of New Zealand (ITANZ), Tradenz, and Statistics New Zealand. The survey asks all businesses for information as at their previous annual balance date, with a cut-off of 30 September each year. The average balance date in each sample is therefore assumed to be March.
Since 1998 the survey has attempted to provide better coverage of activity than previous surveys by including business units where IT activity is a secondary activity. The survey only covers IT businesses with more than two full time equivalent staff, which will tend to cause the survey to underestimate the actual export figures.
Note that information from the two sources (Customs and the Statistics New Zealand survey) cannot be directly compared because of differences in the treatment of export costs such as freight and insurance, and restrictions imposed by the sample used for the survey.
The lower level of the New Zealand dollar since 1999 compared with earlier years might be expected to have a major influence in both imports and exports.
2.1 Hardware Imports (Updated)
Figures 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 summarise New Zealand IT hardware imports for the last decade, based on Customs figures (Statistics New Zealand 2001a). The 1999 year shows a overall 25.4% increase in IT hardware imports from 1999 (compared with a 23.2% increase the year before), comprising 19.0% for Computing Hardware and Parts and 76.0% for Wireless Communications Hardware but a decrease of 9.1% for Telecommunications Hardware. Overall, imports of Wireless Communications Hardware have increased by a total of 193% in the four years since 1997, presumably driven by the rapid uptake of mobile telephony in New Zealand.
Figure 2.1.1: IT Related Hardware Imports by Type
The information in the previous figure is reproduced in Figure 2.1.2 subdivided by source, showing that the bulk of IT hardware imports come from Asia and North America. In 2000, imports from North America increased by 81% (after remaining relatively constant for several years) and now almost equal those from Asia, which increased by a modest 8%. There was an increase of 13% in imports from Australia and almost 60% from the "Rest of the World" (from a rather low base). After a sharp increase last year, imports from Europe fell by 19%.
Figure 2.1.2: IT Related Hardware Imports by Source
2.2 Hardware Exports (Updated)
The following three figures show export figures based on Customs data (Statistics New Zealand 2001a), by calendar year.
Figure 2.2.1 shows a summary of New Zealand IT hardware exports since 1990. The steady growth in exports (averaging 25% per year from 1990 to 1997) began to tail off in 1998 and actually fell by 8% in 1999. This trend was reversed last year with a net increase of 24% in exports. Computing Hardware and Parts increased by 33%, Wireless Communications Hardware by 26%, while Telecommunications Hardware fell by just 3%.
Figure 2.2.1: IT Related Hardware Exports by Type
Figure 2.2.2 shows just the contribution of Computer Hardware and Parts. This category has shown strong growth from 1990, averaging well over 30% increases per annum to 1998 followed by a fall in 1999 which was more than overcome by the 33% increase in 2000.
Figure 2.2.2: Computer Hardware and Parts Exports
In Figure 2.2.3, the total IT hardware exports are shown split by export destination. The fall in 1999 exports was due primarily to large decreases in exports to Asia and Europe, partly offset by an increase in exports to North America. In 2000, there was a 78% increase in exports to Asia, more than offsetting the previous year's decline and a 21% increase in exports to Europe. The substantial growth in exports to North America each year since 1996 has continued with an increase of 35% in 2000.
Figure 2.2.3: IT Related Exports by Destination
Figure 2.2.4 is based on the 2000 Statistics New Zealand survey of IT firms (Statistics New Zealand 2001b). Note that these data are not directly comparable to the IT hardware export data captured at the border, and given earlier in this paper (for example, Figures 2.2.1 and 2.2.2). The overall figures do, however, follow similar trends. Figure 2.2.4 shows an average annual increase from 1994 to 1998 of 25% per annum but a decrease of 3% in 1999, followed by a 20% increase to $328 million in 2000.
Figure 2.2.4: IT Hardware Exports
Note: Figure for 1994 combines both categories
2.3 Software and Services Exports (Updated)
The information in this section is taken from the Statistics New Zealand survey of IT firms (Statistics New Zealand 2000b). Figure 2.3.1 shows exports of Software, Communications Services and Computing & Education Services over the past four years. Note that figures for Communications Services have not been available in previous reports, and are not available prior to 1997. Total software and services exports have increased by 66% over this period.
Figure 2.3.1: Exports of Software, Communications Services and Computing, and Education Services
Figure 2.3.2 shows the growth in Software and Non-Communications Services from 1994. Except for a drop in Software exports in 1997, both software and services have increased rapidly over the period of the survey, with an increase of 56% in 1998 over 1997, followed by a further 44% increase in 1999.
Figure 2.3.2: Software, and Computer and Education Services Exports
Note: The 1994 figure combines both categories
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