Retail and Wholesale Trade
Retail
The retail trade sector includes all those mainly engaged in the resale of new or used goods to final consumers for personal or household consumption or in selected repair activities such as repair of household equipment or motor vehicles.
Retail trade is a healthy sector, providing 10% of the Northern Territory’s jobs in 2009-10. The continued growth of tourism and major construction projects has boosted consumption and retail turnover since late 2001.
Food retailing accounts for almost half of retail turnover. Relative to other states, Northern Territory consumers spend more on food and transport and less on clothing and footwear, reflecting climate, lifestyle and distance factors.
Pearling and crocodiles are two of the Northern Territory’s niche retail industries. The world renowned Paspaley Pearling Company Pty Ltd, has its head office located in Darwin and employs more than 1400 people. The NT position in the world market for farmed crocodile skins is small but occupies an important and significant niche in supplying premium grade skins for high end market fashion accessories. Whilst the farming industry is small in number of businesses, it is substantial in economic output with an annual turnover in the order of several tens of millions of dollars.
Wholesale
The wholesale trade sector includes the resale (as agents or principals) of new or used goods to businesses or institutional users.
The Northern Territory has a small wholesale trade sector with its share of GSP (1.6%) and employment (2.2%). This is due to the bulk of wholesale activity typically undertaken interstate, with products distributed to the Territory from interstate supply centres.
Source: 2011-12 NT Budget.
Key wholesalers in the Northern Territory include:
Vopak - the world’s largest provider of conditioned storage facilities for bulk liquids operates a terminal in Darwin.
Ausfuel - one of the largest independent fuel distributors in Australia with bulk haulage depots across the NT, north western Australia and Far North Queensland.
Komatsu Australia and The Hastings Deering Group - service and support plant and heavy earth moving equipment.
Bidvest Australia and Independent Grocers Darwin - wholesalers of food services.
Content current at 23 May 2011.
