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DHL reveals Australian exporters confident about the next 12 months of trading

Australian exporters remain positive amid the current global trade climate, pivoting growth strategies to leverage e-commerce opportunities and focusing efforts on select overseas markets.


Findings of the DHL Export Barometer 2019 reveal that 69% of Australian exporters are confident the coming 12 months will bring an increase in overseas orders for their business. Furthermore, 56% of exporters reported an increase in actual orders in the past 12 months, mirroring figures from 2017.

Commenting on exporters’ global market outlook, Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President for DHL Express Oceania, said, “Although this year’s level of exporter confidence marks a decline on last year’s record peak of 75% – the highest level recorded since the study began in 2003 – Australian exporter confidence retains its headway at 69% and marks a fifth consecutive year above the long-term average.”

Businesses exporting predominately consumer goods registered the highest confidence level at 75%, while agriculture (71%) and services (70%) followed close behind. Mining sector confidence experienced an upturn, with confidence growing to 65% from 50% in 2018. Meanwhile, the outlook for exporters in the manufacturing sector dropped 9% to sit at 63% this year. Small Office/Home Office-sized Businesses were most confident (73%), along with Small Businesses (71%). Continuing the trend of previous years, larger and more experienced exporters were the least confident – 52% of Large Businesses and 57% of businesses exporting for more than 20 years recorded the lowest levels of assurance in global exports.

At a state and territory level, exporters based in New South Wales/the Australian Capital Territory (69%) and Victoria (65%) recorded a decline in confidence, while South Australia/the Northern Territory (75%), Western Australia (72%), and Queensland (71%) all showed increases this year.

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