Marketing research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing research - Essay Example Australian population statistics report indicated that population density was 2.9 people per square kilometer, in June 2010, compared to 2.6 people per square kilometer in 2005 (Anderson, 2011). Reports also indicated that Australian Capital cities had the highest population density of 150 people per square kilometer, in June 2010. The city of Canberra had the largest population followed by Victoria with 24 people per square kilometer (Anderson, 2011). The Northern region had the lowest population density of 0.2 people per square kilometer. Low population density in the Northern Territory is as a result of its large arid and semiarid areas, distance from earlier settlements, and more recent settlements. Australia’s Capital cities and their population include Sydney (3,502,301), Melbourne (3,160,171), Brisbane (1,508,161), Perth (1,176,542), Gold Coast (376,533), Canberra (309,799), Newcastle (279,975), Central Coast (255,429), Wollongong (228,846), Geelong (130,194), Hobart (1 26,048), and Townsville (119,504) among other cities (Anderson, 2011). Australia’s economy is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. According to nominal GDP, it is ranked a 13th largest economy and the 17th according to GDP (PPP) (Anderson, 2011). Australia is rich in natural resources, therefore; most of the imports are usually manufactured products such as computer accessories, telecommunication equipment, aircrafts, vehicle parts and accessories, and medicinal and pharmaceutical equipment. China is Australia’s leading source of imports. Major imports from China include computers, communication equipment, clothing, games and sporting gadgets, televisions and furniture (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). Other sources of import include New Zealand, United States, Japan, European Union and Singapore. Import of commodities usually require the involvement of Customs authorities in both Australia and the source of import, and these goods are subject to trade agreements, import quotas and tariffs (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2012). Rich in mineral resources and fertile land, Australia is the world’s leading exporter of mineral ores such as gold and iron-ore, agricultural products such as wool and wheat, and energy in the form of coal and natural liquefiable natural gas (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). Other exports include gold, beef, meat, alumina, live sheep, diamonds, mineral sands, lead, uranium, refined zinc ores, bauxite, and transport and machinery equipment. The mining and agricultural sectors account for 57 percent of Australia’s exports. Its exports were valued at AUD 24166 million, in September 2012 and averaged AUD 8217.4 million per every financial year. China became Australia’s largest export market, in 2009. Australia exported about 266.2 million tons of gold and iron-ore to China, in 2009 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011). This represented a 45.2 percent increase in export ov er the same period. Other leading export markets include European Union, Japan, United States, and South Korea. Economists have established that, over the past two decades, Australia has enjoyed continuous economic growth. In 2010, Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at US$882.344 billion. This represented a 3.94 percent increase from 2009. According to the World Bank reports, in 2011, Australian GPD was worth US$1371.76 billion (Australian