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

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 surplus of AUD 0.7 billion. Balance of Trade in Australia averaged -544.87 AUD Million from 1971 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 4478 AUD Million in December of 2016 and a record low of -4200 AUD Million in December of 2015.

Australia Balance of Trade
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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.

In February, exports were flat on the month at AUD 34.23 billion. Sales of rural goods rose by 17 percent to AUD 3.88 billion, mainly due to other rural (34 percent) and wool and sheepskins (25 percent). Also, exports of services went up by 1 percent to AUD 7.22 billion, due to travel sales (1 percent) and other services (1 percent). On the other hand, sales of non-rural goods fell AUD 90 million to AUD 21.42 billion, mainly due to trasport equipment (-36 percent) and other manunufactures (-7 percent). In addition, sales of non-monetary gold fell by 23 percent to AUD 1.69 billion. Meantime, net exports of goods under merchanting remained steady at AUD 7 million. 

Imports were unchanged at AUD 33.41 billion. Purchases of consumption goods increased by 7 percent to AUD 8.95 billion, driven by non-industrial transport equipment (20 percent); textiles, clothing and footwear (6 percent) and food and beverages, mainly for consumption (4 percent). Also, imports of capital goods grew by 1 percent to AUD 6.21 billion, supported by machinery and industrial equipment (15 percent) and industrial transport equipment n.e.s (12 percent). In addition, purchases of non-monetary gold rose by 17 percent to AUD 480 million. Imports of services went up by 1 percent to AUD 7.81 billion, mainly due to travel purchases (1 percent) and transport (2 percent). On the other hand, imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods fell by 6 percent to AUD 9.96 billion, driven by fuels and lubricants (-19 percent). 

Considering January to February 2018, the trade surplus came in at AUD 1.78 billion, down sharply from AUD 4.74 billion surplus in the same period the prior year.


ABS l Rida Husna | rida@tradingeconomics.com
4/5/2018 2:45:19 AM


Recent Releases

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

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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

Australia Trade Gap Widens in November
Australia' trade deficit widened to AUD 0.63 billion in November of 2017 from a downwardly revised AUD 0.30 billion in the prior month and missing market expectations of a AUD 0.55 billion surplus. Imports rose slightly while exports were unchanged.
Published on 2018-01-05

Australia Trade Surplus Smallest in 6 Months
Australia's trade surplus narrowed 93 percent to AUD 0.1 billion in October of 2017 from a downwardly revised AUD 1.60 billion in the prior month and way below market expectations of AUD 1.4 billion. It was the smallest trade surplus since April, as exports declined by 3 percent from a month earlier to AUD 31.87 billion while imports went up 2 percent to AUD 31.77 billion.
Published on 2017-12-07



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2018-02-06 12:30 AM Balance of Trade A$-1.358B A$36B A$0.2B A$ 0.5B
2018-03-08 12:30 AM Balance of Trade A$1.055B A$-1.1146B A$0.3B A$ -1.1B
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$0.825B
2018-06-08 01:30 AM Balance of Trade
2018-07-06 01:30 AM Balance of Trade


Australia Trade Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Balance of Trade 825.00 952.00 4478.00 -4200.00 AUD Million [+]
Exports 34229.00 34227.00 34540.00 435.00 AUD Million [+]
Imports 33405.00 33275.00 34093.00 393.00 AUD Million [+]
Current Account -14024.00 -11013.00 277.00 -22574.00 AUD Million [+]
Current Account to GDP -2.70 -4.70 1.40 -6.70 percent [+]
External Debt 1941517.00 1898196.00 1941517.00 147312.00 AUD Million [+]
Terms of Trade 86.70 86.00 106.40 47.50 Index Points [+]
Foreign Direct Investment 64825.00 29636.00 64825.00 -37050.00 AUD Million [+]
Capital Flows 13577.00 12642.00 26186.00 -375.00 AUD Million [+]
Tourist Arrivals 914500.00 702500.00 1010600.00 30100.00 [+]
Gold Reserves 72.80 79.85 79.85 72.80 Tonnes [+]
Crude Oil Production 243.00 256.00 781.00 243.00 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 April of 2018.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
825.00 952.00 4478.00 -4200.00 1971 - 2018 AUD Million Monthly
SA




balance of trade by Country
Country Last
Australia 825.00 Feb/18
Brazil 6280.75 Mar/18
Canada -2686.00 Feb/18
China -49.83 Mar/18
Euro Area 18897.50 Feb/18
France -5186.00 Feb/18
Germany 18400.00 Feb/18
India -13690.00 Mar/18
Indonesia 1091.70 Mar/18
Italy 3104.28 Feb/18
Japan 797.35 Mar/18
Mexico 1062.00 Feb/18
Netherlands 4514.00 Feb/18
Russia 12192.00 Feb/18
South Korea 6865.00 Mar/18
Spain -2167000.00 Feb/18
Switzerland 2315.30 Mar/18
Turkey -5760.71 Feb/18
United Kingdom -965.00 Feb/18
United States -57591.00 Feb/18


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