Exports by industry are sales of goods and services to non-resident households, businesses and other organisations, outside Cairns boundaries. Exports (domestic) include all exports from the area to other parts of Australia. Exports (international) includes all exports from the Region to countries outside Australia.
To get the full picture how each industry sector contributes to the regional or state economy, export data should be viewed alongside the other industry characteristics in the Industry sector analysis section.
Detailed notes about how the figures are derived can be found in the specific topic notes section.
Data source
National Economics (NIEIR) - Modelled series
Current benchmark:
Comparison year:
Export type:
| Total exports by industry sector | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cairns | 2023/24 | 2018/19 | Change | ||||||
| Industry | $m | % | Queensland | $m | % | Queensland | 2018/19 - 2023/24 | ||
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 145.4 | 2.2 | 7.1 | 62.1 | 1.1 | 4.3 | +83.3 | ||
| Mining | 175.3 | 2.7 | 35.4 | 157.4 | 2.8 | 45.9 | +17.9 | ||
| Manufacturing | 558.0 | 8.6 | 15.5 | 565.8 | 10.2 | 13.4 | -7.8 | ||
| Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services | 292.9 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 215.0 | 3.9 | 2.6 | +77.9 | ||
| Construction | 13.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 21.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | -7.9 | ||
| Wholesale Trade | 166.3 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 180.1 | 3.2 | 2.6 | -13.8 | ||
| Retail Trade | 294.6 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 276.3 | 5.0 | 1.7 | +18.4 | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | 726.1 | 11.2 | 2.3 | 714.6 | 12.9 | 2.3 | +11.5 | ||
| Transport, Postal and Warehousing | 1,995.8 | 30.7 | 8.0 | 1,932.4 | 34.9 | 9.3 | +63.3 | ||
| Information Media and Telecommunications | 23.0 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 22.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | +0.3 | ||
| Financial and Insurance Services | 37.8 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 43.6 | 0.8 | 2.2 | -5.8 | ||
| Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services | 86.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 80.9 | 1.5 | 0.6 | +5.2 | ||
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 97.5 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 75.3 | 1.4 | 2.5 | +22.2 | ||
| Administrative and Support Services | 301.3 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 74.0 | 1.3 | 0.9 | +227.3 | ||
| Public Administration and Safety | 516.8 | 7.9 | 5.3 | 194.8 | 3.5 | 3.4 | +322.0 | ||
| Education and Training | 309.9 | 4.8 | 3.2 | 300.6 | 5.4 | 3.3 | +9.3 | ||
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 550.6 | 8.5 | 3.9 | 401.4 | 7.2 | 2.7 | +149.2 | ||
| Arts and Recreation Services | 55.9 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 74.5 | 1.3 | 0.6 | -18.6 | ||
| Other Services | 154.3 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 151.2 | 2.7 | 0.8 | +3.2 | ||
| Total industries | 6,501.5 | 100.0 | 100.0 | 5,544.2 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +957.3 | ||
Source: National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) ©2025. Compiled and presented in economy.id by .id (informed decisions). Note: All $ values are expressed in 2022/23 base year dollar terms. NIEIR-ID data are inflation adjusted each year to allow direct comparison, and annual data releases adjust previous years’ figures to a new base year.Learn more Please refer to specific data notes for more information | |||||||||
Dominant groups
An analysis of the total exports by industry sectors in Cairns in 2023/24 shows the three largest industries were:
- Transport, Postal and Warehousing (1,996 million or 30.7%)
- Accommodation and Food Services (726 million or 11.2%)
- Manufacturing (558 million or 8.6%)
In combination these three industries accounted for 3,280 million in total or 50.4% of the total exports by industry in the Cairns.
In comparison, the same 3 industries in Queensland accounted for 8.0% in Transport, Postal and Warehousing; 2.3% in Accommodation and Food Services and 15.5% in Manufacturing.
The major differences between the total exports by industries of Cairns and Queensland were:
- A smaller percentage of total exports by Mining (2.7% compared to 35.4%)
- A larger percentage of total exports by Transport, Postal and Warehousing (30.7% compared to 8.0%)
- A larger percentage of total exports by Accommodation and Food Services (11.2% compared to 2.3%)
- A smaller percentage of total exports by Manufacturing (8.6% compared to 15.5%)
Emerging groups
The total total exports by industry in Cairns $increased by 957 million between 2018/19 and 2023/24.
The largest changes in the total exports by industries between 2018/19 and 2023/24 in Cairns were for:
- Public Administration and Safety (+$322 million)
- Administrative and Support Services (+$227 million)
- Health Care and Social Assistance (+$149 million)
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (+$83 million)