Australia March Trade Deficit A$1.84bn

Australia posted a A$1.84 billion trade deficit in March, missing the expected A$4.25 billion surplus and reversing a prior A$5 billion surplus.
Exports fell 2.7% month‑on‑month, led by lower shipments of metal ores, coal and sugar, while mineral fuel exports rose 4.6%.
Imports jumped 14.1% month‑on‑month, driven by a 204% surge in automated data‑processing equipment and higher crude petroleum imports after a refinery fire.
Australian stock index rose 0.84% and AUD/USD edged up 0.07% following the data release.