CHINA continues to dominate Western Australia’s export focus, generating more than $16 billion in revenue in 2007-08, according to figures from the Department of Industry and Resources. China overtook Japan as WA’s top trading partner in 2006-07 and further solidified its place at the top this past financial year, lifting its share of exports by almost 25 per cent. The increase in export revenues to China is the result of the nation’s continued strong demand for WA’s resources, particularly iron ore. Japan remained at number two with almost $13 billion in exports from WA in 2007-08, up 10 per cent on the previous financial year. The Republic of Korea jumped up to third spot with $5.8 billion worth of exports, overtaking India, which dropped down to fourth spot after exports to that country fell 12 per cent to $4.9 billion. Exports to the UK, the state’s fifth biggest export market, almost doubled from previous year to $4.8 billion. One of the big movers in terms of ranking was the US, which is now WA’s seventh largest export market with almost $2 billion in exports in 2007-08, up from ninth spot the previous year. The United Arab Emirates is also emerging as one of the state’s key export partners, rising up the ranks from 14 two years ago to now be WA’s ninth biggest export market, with $1.8 billion in exports. Taiwan moved back into 10th spot with $1.2 billion in exports, after slipping to 12th spot in 2006-07
