Australia’s trade surplus narrowed to AUD 0.50 billion in August 2026 from a downwardly revised AUD 1.35 billion surplus in the previous month, and was far below market expectations of an AUD 2 billion deficit. It was the smallest trade surplus since May, when the trade balance posted a deficit, as exports rose less than imports. Imports grew 5.8% month-on-month to a record high of AUD 46.94 billion, after a downwardly revised 2.4% drop in July, driven by ADP equipment and non-monetary gold. Meanwhile, exports rose 3.7% month-on-month to a 29-month high of AUD 47.43 billion in August, rebounding from a revised 3.6% fall in July, primarily boosted by higher exports of non-monetary gold and coal, coke, and briquettes. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australia recorded a trade surplus of 495 AUD Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in Australia averaged 803.31 AUD Million from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 19092.00 AUD Million in June of 2022 and a record low of -3297.00 AUD Million in February of 2008. This page provides the latest reported value for - Australia Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Australia Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on October of 2026.

Australia recorded a trade surplus of 495 AUD Million in August of 2026. Balance of Trade in Australia is expected to be 600.00 AUD Million by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Balance of Trade is projected to trend around 1000.00 AUD Million in 2027 and 2600.00 AUD Million in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-03 01:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Jul A$1.923B A$2.341B A$1.40B A$1.1B
2026-10-01 01:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Aug A$0.495B A$1.351B A$2B A$2.2B
2026-11-05 12:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Sep A$0.495B A$ 0.7B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade 495.00 1351.00 AUD Million Aug 2026
Capital Flows 5295.00 16600.00 AUD Million Jun 2026
Current Account -27220.00 -25448.00 AUD Million Jun 2026
Exports MoM 47433.00 45726.00 AUD Million Aug 2026
External Debt 2857098.00 2780509.00 AUD Million Jun 2026
Foreign Direct Investment 54712.00 77930.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Imports MoM 46938.00 44375.00 AUD Million Aug 2026
Terms of Trade 111.90 117.00 points Jun 2026
Tourist Arrivals 710980.00 566910.00 Jul 2026


Australia Balance of Trade
Australia has been recording consistent trade surpluses since 2017 due to rise in a resource exports like natural gas, metal ores and minerals, coal, coke and briquettes, and rural goods such as meat and cereals. The biggest trade surpluses are recorded with China, Hong Kong and Japan, and New Zealand while the biggest trade deficits are with the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
495.00 1351.00 19092.00 -3297.00 1971 - 2026 AUD Million Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Posts Smallest Trade Surplus in 3 Months
Australia’s trade surplus narrowed to AUD 0.50 billion in August 2026 from a downwardly revised AUD 1.35 billion surplus in the previous month, and was far below market expectations of an AUD 2 billion deficit. It was the smallest trade surplus since May, when the trade balance posted a deficit, as exports rose less than imports. Imports grew 5.8% month-on-month to a record high of AUD 46.94 billion, after a downwardly revised 2.4% drop in July, driven by ADP equipment and non-monetary gold. Meanwhile, exports rose 3.7% month-on-month to a 29-month high of AUD 47.43 billion in August, rebounding from a revised 3.6% fall in July, primarily boosted by higher exports of non-monetary gold and coal, coke, and briquettes.
2026-10-01
Australia Trade Surplus Narrows in July
Australia’s trade surplus narrowed to AUD 1.93 billion in July 2026 from an upwardly revised AUD 2.34 billion surplus in the previous month, but surpassed market expectations of an AUD 1.40 billion deficit, as exports fell more than imports. Imports fell 2.5% month-on-month to a five-month low of AUD 44.34 billion, reversing an upwardly revised 0.7% drop in June, mainly due to lower imports of fuel and lubricants amid weak domestic demand. Meanwhile, exports dropped 3.3% month-on-month to AUD 46.26 billion in July, reversing a downwardly revised 9.1% surge in June, primarily driven by lower shipments of non-monetary gold and coal, coke, and briquettes.
2026-09-03
Australia Unexpectedly Posts Trade Surplus
Australia unexpectedly posted a trade surplus of AUD 1.93 billion in June 2026, recovering from a downwardly revised AUD 2.37 billion deficit in the previous month and defying market expectations of an AUD 1.1 billion deficit, as exports rose while imports fell. Exports grew 9.6% month-on-month to an over-three-year high of AUD 47.70 billion in June, rebounding from an upwardly revised 7.6% decline in May. The increase was primarily driven by non-monetary gold amid higher global energy and commodity prices, reflecting the impact of the Middle East conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, imports edged down 0.2% month-on-month to AUD 45.77 billion, reversing an upwardly revised 0.9% increase in May, mainly due to lower imports of fuel and lubricants amid weak domestic demand.
2026-08-06