Australia Balance of Trade  1971-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast

Australia's trade surplus narrowed by 44 percent to AUD 0.98 billion in April of 2018 from an upwardly revised AUD 1.73 billion in the prior month and matching market expectations. It is the smallest trade surplus since a deficit in last December, mainly due to a decline in exports. In April, outbound shipments fell by 2 percent month-on-month to AUD 34.19 billion; while imports were unchanged at AUD 33.21 billion. Considering the first four months of the year, the trade surplus came in at AUD 5.25 billion, down sharply from AUD 6.84 billion surplus in the same period the prior year. Balance of Trade in Australia averaged -539.48 AUD Million from 1971 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 4574 AUD Million in December of 2016 and a record low of -4269 AUD Million in April of 2015.

Australia Balance of Trade
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Australia Trade Surplus Smallest in 4 Months


Australia's trade surplus narrowed by 44 percent to AUD 0.98 billion in April of 2018 from an upwardly revised AUD 1.73 billion in the prior month and matching market expectations. It is the smallest trade surplus since a deficit in last December, mainly due to a decline in exports.

In April, exports fell by 2 percent month-on-month to AUD  34.19 billion. Sales of non-rural goods dropped by 2 percent to AUD 21.35 billion, mainly due to coal, coke and briquettes (-7 percent); and metal ores and minerals (-4 percent). Also, sales of rural goods fell by AUD 8 million to AUD 4 billion, mainly due cereal grains and cereal preparations (-12 percent); and those of non-monetary gold decreased by 16 percent to AUD 1.53 billion. On the other hand, exports of services went up by 1 percent to AUD 7.3 billion, due to travel sales (1 percent); and other services (1 percent). In addition, net exports of goods under merchanting increased by 83 percent to AUD 11 million. 

Imports were unchanged at AUD 33.21 billion. Purchases of consumption goods declined by 2 percent to AUD 8.46 billion, mostly due to non-industrial transport equipment (-6 percent); consumption goods n.e.s (-1 percent). textiles, clothing and footwear (-2 percent); and food and beverages, mainly for consumption (-2 percent). Also, imports of non-monetary gold tumbled 15 percent to AUD 608 million. On the other hand, purchases of intermediate and other merchandise goods increased by 1 percent to AUD 10.45 billion, driven by fuels and lubricants (4 percent); and primary industrial supplies, n.e.s (68 percent). In addition, inbound shipments of capital goods rose by 2 percent to AUD 6.22 billion, led by civil aircraft and confidentialised items (32 percent) and ADP equipment (-15 percent). At the same time, imports of services grew by 1 percent to AUD 7.48 billion, mainly due to travel purchases (1 percent); and other services (1 percent).

Considering the first four months ofthe year, the trade surplus came in at AUD 5.25 billion, down sharply from AUD 6.84 billion surplus in the same period the prior year.


ABS l Rida | rida@tradingeconomics.com
6/7/2018 3:30:40 AM


Recent Releases

Australia Trade Surplus Largest in 10 Months
Australia's trade surplus widened by 13 percent to AUD 1.53 billion in March of 2018 from an upwardly revised AUD 1.35 billion in the prior month and far above market expectations of a AUD 0.7 billion surplus. It is the largest trade surplus since May 2017.
Published on 2018-05-03

Australia Trade Surplus Beats Estimates
Australia's trade surplus narrowed by 13 percent to AUD 0.83 billion in February of 2018 from a downwardly revised AUD 0.95 billion in the prior month but above market expectations of a AUD 0.7 billion surplus.
Published on 2018-04-05

Australia Trade Balance Swings to Surplus in January
Australia posted a trade surplus of AUD 1.06 billion in January 2018, reversing from a downwardly revised AUD 1.11 billion gap in a month earlier and way above market estimates of a AUD 0.3 billion surplus. It was the largest trade surplus since September 2017, as exports jumped 4 percent from a month earlier to AUD 33.92 billion while imports declined by 2 percent to AUD 32.87 billion.
Published on 2018-03-08

Australia Posts Largest Trade Gap in 16 Months
Australia's trade balance posted a AUD 1.36 billion deficit in December 2017, compared with a AUD 4.41 billion surplus a year earlier and missing market expectations of a AUD 0.2 billion surplus. It was the biggest trade gap since August 2016, mainly due to a jump in imports.
Published on 2018-02-06



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-04-05 01:30 AM Balance of Trade A$0.825B A$0.95B A$0.7B
2018-05-03 01:30 AM Balance of Trade A$1.53B A$1.35B A$0.65B A$0.75B
2018-06-07 01:30 AM Balance of Trade A$0.977B A$1.73B A$0.98B A$0.9B
2018-07-06 01:30 AM Balance of Trade A$0.977B
2018-08-03 01:30 AM Balance of Trade A$ 0.3B
2018-09-07 01:30 AM Balance of Trade


Australia Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 977.00 1731.00 4574.00 -4269.00 AUD Million [+]
Exports 34188.00 34951.00 34951.00 435.00 AUD Million [+]
Imports 33211.00 33220.00 34143.00 393.00 AUD Million [+]
Current Account -10469.00 -14661.00 277.00 -22594.00 AUD Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -3.10 -1.40 2.30 -7.30 percent [+]
External Debt 2005834.00 1941517.00 2005834.00 147312.00 AUD Million [+]
Terms of Trade 89.10 86.70 106.40 47.50 Index Points [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 60499.00 64825.00 64825.00 -37050.00 AUD Million [+]
Capital Flows 7339.00 16999.00 26186.00 -375.00 AUD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 872400.00 914500.00 1010600.00 30100.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 72.80 72.80 79.85 72.80 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 289.00 283.00 781.00 243.00 BBL/D/1K [+]
Terrorism Index 3.09 2.74 3.11 0.01 [+]
Weapons Sales 97.00 134.00 158.00 2.00 USD Million [+]

Exports by Country  |   Exports by Category  |   Imports by Country  |   Imports by Category



Australia Balance of Trade

In spite of Australia being a major exporter of commodities, the country has been reporting trade deficits with an exception of 2010, 2011 and 2017 as the majority of manufactured goods have to be imported. The biggest trade surpluses are recorded with China, Hong Kong and Japan and New Zealand and the biggest trade deficits with the United States, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. . 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 - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
977.00 1731.00 4574.00 -4269.00 1971 - 2018 AUD Million Monthly
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balance of trade by Country
Country Last
Australia 977.00 Apr/18
Brazil 5981.00 May/18
Canada -1902.20 Apr/18
China 249.22 May/18
Euro Area 16704.70 Apr/18
France -4954.00 Apr/18
Germany 20413.00 Apr/18
India -14620.00 May/18
Indonesia -1629.30 Apr/18
Italy 2937.96 Apr/18
Japan -578.32 May/18
Mexico -289.15 Apr/18
Netherlands 3841.00 Apr/18
Russia 15316.00 Apr/18
South Korea 6732.00 May/18
Spain -830631.00 Mar/18
Switzerland 2255.00 May/18
Turkey -6690.00 Apr/18
United Kingdom -5280.00 Apr/18
United States -46199.00 Apr/18


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