Australia Imports Hit Record on AI Equipment Surge

Australia’s goods imports rose 0.8% month-over-month in April 2026, easing sharply from a downwardly revised 12.2% surge in the previous month as domestic demand moderated and businesses scaled back purchases following March’s strong increase. Despite the slower pace of growth, imports climbed to a fresh record high of AUD 45.44 billion. Purchases of intermediate and other merchandise goods jumped 15.0% to AUD 20.63 billion, driven by fuels and lubricants (41.4%) amid higher prices linked to the Middle East conflict, and other parts for capital goods (5.8%). In contrast, imports of capital goods fell 16.4% to AUD 9.99 billion, weighed by ADP equipment (-41.7%), telecommunications equipment (-18.0%), and machinery and industrial equipment (-2.3%). Also, arrivals of consumption goods dropped 1.6% to AUD 12.33 billion, dragged down by textiles, clothing and footwear (-14.8%), and consumption goods n.e.s. (-4.8%). Separately, non-monetary gold imports were 6.5% lower to AUD 2.45 billion.

Australia’s goods imports soared 14.1% month-over-month to a record peak of AUD 45.77 billion in March 2026, reversing a downwardly revised 2.7% decline in the previous month amid a solid rebound in domestic demand. Purchases of capital goods jumped 36.8% to AUD 12.68 billion, driven by a 204.4% spike in ADP equipment amid rising enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and its infrastructure, alongside gains in capital goods n.e.s. (16.9%) and machinery and industrial equipment (3.6%). Arrivals of intermediate and other merchandise goods rose 8.5% to AUD 17.93 billion, driven mainly by a 53.6% surge in fuels and lubricants amid higher prices linked to the Middle East conflict. Meanwhile, consumption goods imports grew 1.2%, lifted by higher arrivals of non-industrial transport equipment (3.8%), textiles, clothing and footwear (2.4%), and consumption goods n.e.s. (1.4%). Separately, non-monetary gold imports climbed 35.0% to AUD 2.62 billion.

Australia’s goods imports dropped 3.2% mom to a seven-month low of AUD 39.96 billion in February 2026, reversing an upwardly revised 1.0% growth in the prior month, amid weaker domestic demand and uncertainty in global trade flows due to geopolitical risks. Purchases of capital goods tumbled 8.1% to AUD 9.28 billion, pressured by a sharp decline in ADP equipment (-32.8%), civil aircraft and confidentialised items (-17.9%), and capital goods n.e.s. (-13.1%). Non-monetary gold imports also plunged 41.3% to AUD 1.94 billion. In contrast, arrivals of intermediate and other merchandise goods rose 3.1% to AUD 16.32 billion, supported by increases in processed industrial supplies n.e.s. (10.9%), parts for transport equipment (10.4%), and other parts for capital goods (0.1%). Meanwhile, imports of consumption goods grew 3.4%, lifted by gains in consumption goods n.e.s. (5.1%), non-industrial transport equipment (1.1%), textiles, clothing and footwear (1.1%), and food and beverages (4.9%).