Australia unexpectedly posted a goods trade deficit of AUD 1.84 billion in March 2026, shifting from a downwardly revised AUD 5.03 billion surplus in the previous month and missing market expectations of an AUD 4.25 billion surplus. It marked the first trade gap since December 2017, as exports fell while imports surged. Exports dropped 2.7% mom to AUD 43.93 billion, reversing a downwardly revised 4.2% rise in February, mainly driven by other rural products. Also, non-monetary gold exports fell 6.1% to AUD 7.42 billion due to lower global gold prices, which fell over 10% in March, the steepest decline since June 2013. Meanwhile, imports jumped 14.1% to a record high of AUD 45.77 billion, reversing a downwardly revised 2.7% drop in February amid robust domestic demand. The growth was mainly boosted by purchases of capital goods, which surged 36.8% to AUD 12.68 billion, with ADP imports soaring 204.4%, reflecting strong investment in data centres, while purchases of fuel surged. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Australia recorded a trade surplus of 5686 AUD Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in Australia averaged 800.05 AUD Million from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 19161.00 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 May of 2026.

Australia recorded a trade surplus of 5686 AUD Million in February of 2026. Balance of Trade in Australia is expected to be 4900.00 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 7400.00 AUD Million in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-02 12:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Feb A$5.686B A$2.258B A$2.6B A$1.5B
2026-05-07 01:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Mar A$-1.841B A$5.026B A$4.25B A$4.0B
2026-06-04 01:30 AM
Balance of Trade
Apr A$-1.841B


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -1841.00 5026.00 AUD Million Mar 2026
Capital Flows 8027.00 35974.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Current Account -21093.00 -18340.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Exports MoM 43929.00 45143.00 AUD Million Mar 2026
External Debt 2750722.00 2718226.00 AUD Million Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment 81000.00 46000.00 AUD Million Dec 2024
Imports MoM 45770.00 40118.00 AUD Million Mar 2026
Terms of Trade 117.00 116.50 points Mar 2026
Tourist Arrivals 943220.00 716680.00 Feb 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
-1841.00 5026.00 19161.00 -3297.00 1971 - 2026 AUD Million Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Posts First Trade Gap Since 2017
Australia unexpectedly posted a goods trade deficit of AUD 1.84 billion in March 2026, shifting from a downwardly revised AUD 5.03 billion surplus in the previous month and missing market expectations of an AUD 4.25 billion surplus. It marked the first trade gap since December 2017, as exports fell while imports surged. Exports dropped 2.7% mom to AUD 43.93 billion, reversing a downwardly revised 4.2% rise in February, mainly driven by other rural products. Also, non-monetary gold exports fell 6.1% to AUD 7.42 billion due to lower global gold prices, which fell over 10% in March, the steepest decline since June 2013. Meanwhile, imports jumped 14.1% to a record high of AUD 45.77 billion, reversing a downwardly revised 2.7% drop in February amid robust domestic demand. The growth was mainly boosted by purchases of capital goods, which surged 36.8% to AUD 12.68 billion, with ADP imports soaring 204.4%, reflecting strong investment in data centres, while purchases of fuel surged. .
2026-05-07
Australia Trade Surplus Largest in 7 Months
Australia’s goods trade surplus widened to AUD 5.69 billion in February 2026 from a downwardly revised AUD 2.26 billion in the previous month, above market expectations of an AUD 2.6 billion surplus. It marked the largest trade surplus since July 2025, as exports grew while imports fell. Exports rose 4.9% month-on-month to a four-month high of AUD 45.65 billion, recovering from an upwardly revised 1.6% fall in the previous month. Shipment growth was mainly supported by rural exports, which rose 13.9% to AUD 7.35 billion, with sharp increases in meat and meat preparations (26.8%). Meanwhile, imports dropped 3.2% to a seven-month low of AUD 39.96 billion, reversing an upwardly revised 1.0% gain in January, amid weaker domestic demand and uncertainty in global trade flows due to geopolitical tensions.
2026-04-02
Australia Trade Surplus Below Estimates
Australia’s goods trade surplus fell to AUD 2.63 billion in January 2026 from AUD 3.37 billion in the previous month, missing market expectations of a AUD 3.9 billion surplus. The weaker outcome was driven by softer exports and a rebound in imports. Sales slipped 0.9% month-on-month to a five-month low of AUD 44.06 billion, reversing a marginally revised 0.9% rise in December. The decline was largely weighed down by lower shipments of other rural goods, likely reflecting seasonal factors and weker global demand. Meanwhile, imports rose 0.8% to AUD 41.43 billion, recovering from a revised 1.8% drop in the prior month. The increase suggests firmer domestic demand and restocking activity at the start of the year, contributing to the narrower trade surplus.
2026-03-05