Australia Import Growth Eases Significantly

2026-06-04 01:34 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

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.



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Australia Imports Notch Record High
Australia’s goods imports rose 2.6% month-over-month to a fresh record of AUD 46.63 billion in May 2026, picking up from a downwardly revised 0.2% gain in the prior month amid resilient domestic demand. Imports of intermediate and other merchandise goods grew 0.3% to AUD 20.72 billion, supported by higher purchases of processed industrial supplies n.e.s. (3.8%) and fuels and lubricants (0.5%), as elevated energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict lifted import values. In addition, capital goods imports climbed 8.2% to AUD 10.86 billion, driven by civil aircraft and confidentialised items (164.1%), industrial transport equipment n.e.s. (4.2%), machinery and industrial equipment (1.8%), and other capital goods (1.6%). Consumption goods imports increased 7.9% to AUD 13.29 billion, led by non-industrial transport equipment (24.6%) and textiles, clothing and footwear (12.4%). In contrast, imports of non-monetary gold plunged 27.9% to AUD 1.77 billion.
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Australia Import Growth Eases Significantly
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.
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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.
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