Australia Exports Hit 5-Month Low

Australia’s goods exports fell 0.9% mom to a five-month low of AUD 44.06 billion in January 2026, reversing a marginally revised 0.9% increase in the previous month. Non-rural shipments declined 1.7% to AUD 31.28 billion, dragged down by lower sales of coal, coke and briquettes (-4.4%), likely due to softer external demand and price fluctuations. Shipments of other manufactures (-2.2%) and machinery (-2.2%) also eased, pointing to subdued industrial activity abroad. Meanwhile, metal ores and minerals slipped 1.5%, possibly reflecting moderation in demand from some trading partners. Rural exports dropped 5.2% to AUD 6.65 billion, weighed by sharp falls in other rural goods (-10.2%) and meat and meat preparations (-9.5%), which may have been affected by seasonal supply factors and weaker buying interest. In contrast, non-monetary gold exports jumped 9.0% to AUD 6.08 billion, supported by stronger global demand for safe-haven assets and favorable price movements.

Australia’s goods exports grew 1.0% month-on-month to AUD 44.63 billion in December 2025, recovering from an upwardly revised 4.0% fall in November. The increase was largely driven by a 3.0% rise in metal ores and minerals to AUD 14.24 billion, accelerating from 2.3% growth in November. Exports of non-rural goods climbed 1.0% to AUD 31.86 billion, led by higher sales of metal ores and minerals; coal, coke, and briquettes (2.9%); and other non-rural goods (3.6%). Meanwhile, shipments of rural goods rose 2.5% to AUD 7.11 billion, boosted by higher exports of meat and meat preparations (3.4%), other rural goods (3.7%), and wool and sheepskins (3.5%). By contrast, sales of non-monetary gold fell 0.9% to AUD 5.58 billion. Shipments to China, Australia’s top trading partner, surged by 14.9%, rebounding sharply from a 1.5% drop in November. Exports also increased to the UK (13.9%), Japan (6.8%), South Korea (1.3%), India (0.5%), and the US (8.8%), despite the imposition of new tariffs.

Australia’s goods exports dropped 2.9% month-on-month to AUD 44.57 billion in November 2025, following a downwardly revised 2.8% rise in October. The decline was largely driven by a 9.1% fall in metal ores and minerals to AUD 14.02 billion, reversing a 2.3% growth in October. Exports of non-rural goods shrank 4.5% to AUD 31.81 billion, led by lower sales of metal ores and minerals; coal, coke, and briquettes (-2.2%); and other manufactures (-4.5%). Sales of non-monetary gold also declined, falling 7.8% to AUD 5.63 billion. Meanwhile, shipments of rural goods rose 9.6% to AUD 7.05 billion, boosted by higher exports of meat and meat preparations (12.4%), cereal grains and cereal preparations (2.8%), and other rural goods (11.5%). Among trading partners, exports declined to South Korea (-9.4%), India (-41.5%), and Japan (-1.5%), while exports to the US fell 10.5% due to the impact of newly imposed tariffs. Shipments to China, Australia’s top trading partner, also dropped by 0.5%.