Private new capital expenditure on equipment, plant, and machinery in Australia climbed by 18.1% qoq in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding sharply from a downwardly revised 1.3% fall in the previous quarter. This also marked the strongest growth since March 1996, largely driven by non-mining business investments, which recorded an 8.8% increase (vs 1.3% in Q4 2025), while mining-related equipment spending (0% vs -0.9%) was relatively unchanged. Information media and telecommunications recorded the largest industry rise, up 96.1%, reaching a new record level. “The lift in investment was the result of investment in data centre equipment, specifically server racks and processing equipment, significantly boosting overall investment figures”, said Tom Lay, Head of Business Statistics at the ABS. On an annual basis, investment in equipment, plant, and machinery surged by 31%, the sharpest since December 1994 and accelerating from an upwardly revised 9.8% rise in the prior period. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure in Australia increased to 18.10 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from -1.30 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025. Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure in Australia averaged 1.54 percent from 1987 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 21.70 percent in the fourth quarter of 1988 and a record low of -10.10 percent in the third quarter of 1988. This page includes a chart with historical data for Australia Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure. Australia Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-02-26 12:30 AM
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure QoQ
Q4 -1.7% 11.2% -2.0%
2026-05-28 01:30 AM
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure QoQ
Q1 18.1% -1.3% 2.0%
2026-08-27 01:30 AM
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure QoQ
Q2 18.1%


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Manufacturing Production 3.20 1.10 percent Mar 2026
Mining Production 3.10 4.00 percent Mar 2026
New Orders 35.00 23.00 points Dec 2025
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure 18.10 -1.30 percent Mar 2026
Private Capital Expenditure 6.50 0.70 percent Mar 2026
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Australia Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure
Plant Machinery Capital Expenditure is measured as the quarter-on-quarter change. The Survey of New Capital Expenditure includes the following industries classified according to the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, ANZSIC, 2006: Mining, Manufacturing & Other selected industries such as Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services, Construction, Wholesale Trade, Retail Trade, Transport, Postal and Warehousing, Information Media and Telecommunications Finance and, Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
18.10 -1.30 21.70 -10.10 1987 - 2026 percent Quarterly
SA

News Stream
Australia Plant Machinery Capex Rises the Most Since 1996
Private new capital expenditure on equipment, plant, and machinery in Australia climbed by 18.1% qoq in the first quarter of 2026, rebounding sharply from a downwardly revised 1.3% fall in the previous quarter. This also marked the strongest growth since March 1996, largely driven by non-mining business investments, which recorded an 8.8% increase (vs 1.3% in Q4 2025), while mining-related equipment spending (0% vs -0.9%) was relatively unchanged. Information media and telecommunications recorded the largest industry rise, up 96.1%, reaching a new record level. “The lift in investment was the result of investment in data centre equipment, specifically server racks and processing equipment, significantly boosting overall investment figures”, said Tom Lay, Head of Business Statistics at the ABS. On an annual basis, investment in equipment, plant, and machinery surged by 31%, the sharpest since December 1994 and accelerating from an upwardly revised 9.8% rise in the prior period.
2026-05-28
Australia Q4 Equipment Spending Reverses After Q3 Jump
Private new capital expenditure on equipment, plant, and machinery in Australia fell 1.7% qoq in Q4 2025, swinging from a marginally revised 11.2% surge in Q3 and marking the first contraction in three quarters. The pullback suggests some normalization after the previous quarter’s strong spike in investment amid record-high investment in data centers. By industry, mining-related equipment spending declined 0.8%. On the other hand, non-mining outlays continued to expand, rising 3.8% and cushioning the overall drop. On an annual basis, investment in equipment, plant, and machinery increased 9.4%, easing slightly from a 9.9% gain in Q3 but still reflecting solid underlying capital spending momentum.
2026-02-26
Australia Plant Machinery Capex Surges 11.5% in Q3
Private new capital expenditure on equipment, plant, and machinery in Australia expanded by 11.5% quarter-on-quarter in the three months to September 2025, accelerating sharply from an upwardly revised 0.7% increase in the previous quarter. The rise was largely driven by non-mining industries, which recorded a 13.0% jump, while spending on mining equipment and machinery grew 4.5%. ‘Investment in data centres reached new highs, driving the strong rise in equipment and machinery capex for the information media and telecommunications industry, which went up 91.5%," said Tom Lay, Head of Business Statistics at the ABS. On an annual basis, spending on equipment, plant, and machinery climbed by 9.9% in the year to September, following a revised 0.1% rise in Q2.
2025-11-27