BALANCE OF TRADE – AUSTRALIA

Data centre boom drives first trade deficit since 2017

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Original article by Lea Jurkovic
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 3-Jun-26

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the nation recorded a trade deficit of $2.4bn in the March 2026 quarter, compared with a trade surplus of $1bn in the December 2025 quarter. The Commonwealth Bank’s head economist Belinda Allen says easing commodity prices and higher imports have dragged down the trade balance in recent years. The ABS notes that iron ore prices fell significantly in the March quarter, while both iron ore and coal export volumes fell. Australia’s exports fell by 1.1 per cent overall, while rising demand for data centre equipment saw imports rise by 0.8 per cent. The trade figures are expected to reduce Australia’s economic growth by 0.8 per cent, with GDP data for the March quarter to be released today.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

Trade surplus hits $41b

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Original article by Michael Read
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 1-Mar-23

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the nation’s trade surplus rose to $40.9bn in the December quarter. The value of goods exported rose by 1.9 per cent overall, while the value of iron ore and metals exports increased by 6.8 per cent and 16.6 per cent respectively. Meanwhile, the current account surplus rose to $14.1bn, up from just $753m in the previous quarter. The trade figures are tipped to add about 1.1 percentage points to GDP growth data for the December quarter, which will be released on Wednesday.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Current account surplus gives Australian economy breathing room, says Bank of America

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Original article by Michael Janda
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 2-Jul-21

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the nation has posted a trade surplus of $9.68bn for May, slightly below the record $9.87bn surplus in January. Exports rose by 6.1 per cent in May, amid continued strong demand for commodities such as iron ore. The steel input has been a key driver of Australia’s trade surpluses. Tony Morriss from Bank of America notes that while the iron ore price is widely tipped to fall, the decline may not be as sharp as anticipated, as the massive infrastructure program in the US will help to offset any fall in demand from China as that nation’s stimulus measures are wound back.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Record $36b exports lift goods trade surplus

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Original article by Ronald Mizen
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 26-May-21

The ongoing trade tensions with China have not significantly affected Australia’s export trade. New figures show that the nation’s international goods trade surplus topped $10bn in April, after the total value of exports rose by $13m month-on-month to a record $36bn. Iron ore exports rose by one per cent overall, but the value of shipments to China increased by $234m to a record high of $10.5bn. There was also strong growth in export volumes for commodities such as coal and petroleum. Meanwhile, the total value of imports fell by seven per cent to $25.8bn.

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Record trade surplus adds to recovery

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 5-Mar-21

Australia’s trade surplus rose to a record $10.2bn in January, compared with market expectations of just $8.3bn. Strong growth in the resources sector’s exports was a key driver of the record trade surplus; the value of iron ore exports rose by 14.2 per cent month-on-month to $16.1bn, while LNG and coal exports rose by 7.9 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg notes that in addition to growth in iron ore export volumes in January, the price of the steel input remains well above the Budget forecast of just $US55 a tonne free on board.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Depth of downturn less than expected

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Original article by Adam Creighton
The Australian – Page: 2 : 3-Jun-20

Australia has recorded a trade surplus of $19.2bn for the March quarter, and a current account surplus of $8.4bn. The result was driven by strong growth in export volumes and a fall in imports due to the impact of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the median forecast of economists is for GDP growth to have contracted by 0.4 per cent in the quarter, with official data to be released on 3 June. Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has suggested that the coronavirus-induced economic downturn may prove be less severe than initially expected.

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RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA

Trade surplus hits $10.6b thanks to iron ore, coal

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 8-May-20

Official data shows that Australia has posted a record trade surplus of $10.6bn for March; the result was driven by strong growth in exports, particularly to China. There was a 33 per cent increase in iron ore exports to China, as one of Australia’s key trading partners began to ease coronavirus restrictions; analysts also note that iron ore supply in February was disrupted by cyclone Damien. Meanwhile, gold exports rose by 22.5 per cent in March, while coal and LNG shipments also rose. Economists had expected a trade surplus of just $6.4bn.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS

Trade figures underscore economy’s reliance on mining and China

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Original article by Euan Black
The New Daily – Page: Online : 6-Mar-20

Official data shows that Australia’s trade surplus fell by three per cent to $5.2bn in January, although this was better than economists had expected. The value of iron ore exports was 17.4 per cent lower than the peak in July, while coal exports were down 25 per cent from a May peak. The data also shows that the total value of the nation’s exports to China was 12 per cent lower than the peak recorded in June. This is despite the fact that China accounted for 38 per cent of exports in January. Indeed economist Callam Pickering says the figures demonstrate the Australian economy’s dependence on the mining sector and trade with China.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, INDEED INCORPORATED

Ore exports drive trade surplus

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Original article by Patrick Commins
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 10-Jan-20

Official data shows that Australia recorded a trade surplus of $5.8bn for November, after the surplus for the previous month was downwardly revised to $4.1bn. The data also shows that resource exports increased by 0.9 per cent in November and by three per cent year-on-year; the monthly figure was bolstered by a 2.1 per cent rise in iron ore exports and one per cent growth in coal shipments. The total value of goods and services exports increased by two per cent to $40.9bn, while the value of imports was down three per cent at $35.1bn.

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AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

Trade surplus declines on lower iron ore price

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Original article by Matthew Cranston
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10 : 4-Oct-19

Official figures show that Australia recorded a trade surplus of $5.9bn in August, compared with a record $8bn in June. The total value of exports of goods and services fell by $1.4bn in August, and imports fell by $137m. A downturn in the price of iron and coal was the major contributor to the lower trade surplus. The value of iron ore exports declined by 12 per cent during the month, with the price of the steel input falling from a peak of $US120 per tonne to $US91. However, iron ore export volumes increased by 15 per cent.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS, COMMONWEALTH SECURITIES LIMITED, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB