Prices for Australian exports fell 4.5 per cent in the June quarter 2025, and 3.3 per cent since June last year, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
| Rural goods | Non-rural goods (excluding non-monetary gold) | Export price index | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep-21 | 8.1 | 6.2 | 6.2 |
| Dec-21 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Mar-22 | 5 | 16.7 | 14.6 |
| Jun-22 | 1.9 | 11.6 | 10.1 |
| Sep-22 | 5.6 | -4.8 | -3.6 |
| Dec-22 | 1.6 | -1.4 | -0.9 |
| Mar-23 | -8.8 | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Jun-23 | -3.3 | -10.2 | -8.5 |
| Sep-23 | -7.1 | -2.7 | -3.1 |
| Dec-23 | -0.4 | 6.6 | 5.6 |
| Mar-24 | 0.4 | -2.7 | -2.1 |
| Jun-24 | 0 | -7.8 | -5.9 |
| Sep-24 | -0.2 | -5.6 | -4.3 |
| Dec-24 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 3.6 |
| Mar-25 | 3.2 | 1 | 2.1 |
| Jun-25 | 0.1 | -7.2 | -4.5 |
Prices for Australia's natural resources drove this fall, with Non-rural exports down 7.2 per cent in the June quarter and 8.7 per cent since June 2024.
The main drivers of the fall in non-rural export prices were iron ore (Metalliferous ores and metal scrap) down 9.0 per cent and coal (Coal, coke and briquettes) which fell 10.4 per cent over the quarter.
Michelle Marquardt, ABS head of prices statistics, said: 'The fall in Australian iron ore and metallurgical coal export prices was linked to a slowdown in Chinese steel production.'
Demand for Australian thermal coal exports also fell after supply in India and China rose. In addition, higher renewable power generation in China led to lower coal powered electricity output.
Partly offsetting the price falls were rises in the price of gold exports.
'Gold, rose 12.1 per cent this quarter as geopolitical conflicts, and economic uncertainty strengthened demand for gold.' Ms Marquardt said.
Rural export prices rose 0.1 per cent for the quarter and 5.6 per cent since June quarter 2024. Strong US demand for Australian beef led to a 2.8 per cent rise in Meat and meat preparations export prices for this quarter.
'According to the US Department of Agriculture, US herd numbers are at their lowest in 74 years, and this meant that demand for Australian beef remained high.'
A fall in wheat export prices offset the rise in beef for June quarter 2025. Strong winter harvests in the northern hemisphere saw a global oversupply of wheat, which contributed to a fall in Cereals and cereal preparation prices of 2.8 per cent.
The Import Price Index fell 0.8 per cent in the June quarter 2025 but rose 1.4 per cent over the last 12 months.
Intermediate goods drove the quarterly fall, down 2.0 per cent.
Intermediate goods are items used in the production of other goods, such as wood which is used in the construction of homes and furniture making.
| Intermediate Goods | Consumption Goods | Capital Goods | Import Price Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep-21 | 8.2 | 4.1 | 2.3 | 5.4 |
| Dec-21 | 9.2 | 3 | 3.1 | 5.8 |
| Mar-22 | 9 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 5.1 |
| Jun-22 | 9.6 | -1.1 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Sep-22 | 1.6 | 5 | 3.1 | 3 |
| Dec-22 | 0.3 | 2.8 | 4 | 1.8 |
| Mar-23 | -7.3 | -2.1 | 0.1 | -4.2 |
| Jun-23 | -3 | 0.8 | 1.9 | -0.8 |
| Sep-23 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 |
| Dec-23 | 1.1 | 2 | 0.1 | 1.1 |
| Mar-24 | -2.5 | -1.6 | -0.7 | -1.8 |
| Jun-24 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1 |
| Sep-24 | -2.5 | 0.2 | -1 | -1.4 |
| Dec-24 | -0.3 | 1.3 | -0.3 | 0.2 |
| Mar-25 | 5 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 3.3 |
| Jun-25 | -2 | 0.4 | -0.2 | -0.8 |
'The main contributor to the fall in Intermediate goods prices was Petroleum and petroleum products, which fell 11.5 per cent,' Ms Marquardt said.
'Global factors affecting petrol prices included an increase in oil supply and softening of projected oil demand, with a rising number of electric vehicles, and more efficient diesel and petrol vehicles, contributing to lower imported petrol prices'.
Prices for imported consumption goods were flat, rising by 0.4 per cent over the quarter. This small rise was driven by a 1.3 per cent growth in prices for Road vehicles and continued growth in Coffee, tea and cocoa prices, which were up 14.4 per cent.
'Imported coffee bean prices rose on the back of continued supply issues due to adverse weather conditions in major coffee growing countries,' Ms Marquardt said.
Lower import prices for mobile phones and a rise in the Australian dollar in the June quarter led to a 0.2 per cent fall in imported capital good prices.
As with exports, rises in gold prices were the biggest offset to the overall fall in import prices in June quarter 2025.
