FX.co ★ Australia Export Prices Rise 1.1% in Q2

Australia’s export prices rose 1.1% quarter-on-quarter in Q2 2026, following a 0.5% increase in the previous quarter. This marked the third consecutive quarterly gain, underpinned mainly by a 5.4% rise in coal, coke, and briquettes, as stronger demand pushed up thermal coal prices. Petroleum and related products also surged, jumping 22.7% on the back of higher oil prices amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Crude fertilisers climbed 20.9%, reflecting robust demand for lithium used in battery storage and electric vehicles, alongside constrained inventories in China.

These gains were partly offset by an 8.8% fall in non-monetary gold, as expectations of tighter monetary policy and higher US Treasury yields outweighed safe-haven buying. Prices for metalliferous ores and metal scrap also declined, down 1.4%, pressured by elevated Chinese iron ore stockpiles and strong global supply. On an annual basis, export prices were up 3.9% through the year to Q2 2026.