Australia’s current account surplus increased by $13.4 billion to $14.1 billion (seasonally adjusted, current prices) in the December quarter 2022.
The September quarter 2022 current account balance was revised from a $2.3 billion deficit to a $0.8 billion surplus.
Balance of Payments components
The increase in the current account surplus reflected a rise in the trade surplus and a decline in the net primary income deficit. The trade surplus reached $40.9 billion, the second highest on record. The net primary income deficit fell to $26.4 billion following the record high deficit of $30.4 billion in September quarter 2022.
Grace Kim, head of international statistics, said: “Australia’s current account surplus was supported by sustained high commodity prices over 2022, with the value of mining commodity exports reaching over $400 billion for the year.”
Exports of goods and services increased 3.0 per cent in the latest quarter, driven by rises in metal ores and minerals as constraints eased during the quarter; and travel services as the number of international students and visitors arriving in Australia increased.
Imports of goods and services declined 3.1 percent. Fuels and lubricants as well as freight transport services drove the decrease, with falls in both prices and volumes for fuels and lubricants following the record level of imports in September quarter 2022. Imports of freight transport services fell as prices started to stabilise with the easing of supply chain issues that impacted global shipping throughout the year.
SOURCE: ABS