Australia Imports Notch Record High

Australia’s goods imports rose 2.6% month-over-month to a fresh peak of AUD 46.63 billion in May 2026, picking up from a downwardly revised 0.2% gain in the previous month amid robust domestic demand

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.