Australia’s Trade Surplus Reaches 18-Month High in July Driven by Export Gains

Australia’s trade surplus expanded more than anticipated in July, primarily fueled by robust export activity as demand for commodities in key Asian and European markets showed slight recovery during the month.

According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday, the trade surplus reached A 7.31 billion (US4.78 billion) in July, surpassing forecasts of a A 4.88 billion surplus. This marks the highest surplus figure since February 2024 and is a significant rise from June’s A 5.37 billion surplus.

Exports increased by 3.3% month-over-month in July, largely driven by core commodities including metal ores, coal, mineral fuels, and metals, which constitute Australia’s leading export sectors.

The demand for Australian commodities improved moderately in overseas markets such as China, Japan, and Europe in July, with shipments of meat, cereals, and various other food products also registering an uptick, the ABS figures indicated.

The export rebound is seen as a positive signal for Australia’s economy, particularly following recent GDP data which highlighted that weak export growth had dampened economic expansion in the second quarter.

Additionally, the strong trade surplus in July was supported by a 1.3% decline in imports compared to the previous month.