Australia records a current account deficit

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Released
6/12/2022
Source
Balance of Payments and International Investment Position, Australia, September 2022

Australia's current account balance decreased by $17.0 billion, resulting in a deficit of $2.3 billion (seasonally adjusted, current prices) in the September quarter 2022, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Balance of Payments components

Australia recorded a $2.3 billion current account deficit in the September quarter 2022, following 13 consecutive quarters of a current account surplus. The balance on goods and services decreased by $11.1 billion but remained in a surplus of $31.2b, while the net primary income deficit widened by $6.4 billion to $33.2 billion in the September quarter 2022. 

Grace Kim, acting head of international statistics at the ABS, said: “The current account deficit reflected a narrowing but robust trade surplus, which was offset by a record high income deficit in the September quarter.”

Imports of goods and services increased 8.2 per cent, with travel services driving the increase as Australians continued to travel overseas after prolonged border closures. The increase in goods imports was driven by fuels and lubricants with diesel the main contributor. Non-industrial transport equipment also rose with high imports of motor vehicles and a notable rise in imports of electric vehicles.

Exports of goods and services decreased 0.2 per cent as shipments of mining commodities were disrupted during the quarter as east coast floods impacted key trading ports. High rainfall throughout 2022 supported strong production and exports of agricultural commodities such as cotton. Exports of travel services increased as arrivals of international students and tourists continued to rise following the re-opening of Australia’s international border earlier in the year.

The Terms of Trade fell 6.6 per cent, driven by a decline in export prices with decreasing coal and metal ore prices. This was partly offset by a rise in mineral fuels due to the price rise in oil-linked contracts and surging global demand. The rise in import prices also contributed to the fall in the terms of trade.

  1. Seasonally adjusted estimates at current prices.

The net primary income deficit widened to a record $33.2 billion in the September quarter 2022.

“The key contributors to the record high income deficit were high operating profits, and increased non-resident investment in the resource sector, which contributed to strong dividend payments to non-resident portfolio investment.” Ms Kim added.

The financial account recorded a surplus of $8.1 billion in the September quarter 2022, a turnaround of $24.7 billion. This was driven by a net inflow of equity of $7.7 billion and a net inflow of debt of $0.4 billion.

  1. Seasonally adjusted estimates at current prices.

Contribution to Gross Domestic Product

The fall in the balance on goods and services surplus of $1.0 billion (seasonally adjusted chain volume measure) is expected to detract 0.2 percentage points from the September quarter 2022 GDP quarterly movement.

International Investment Position (IIP)

Australia's net international investment liability position was $861.6 billion at September quarter 2022, an increase of $17.1 billion. This reflected a rise in Australia's foreign liabilities outpacing a rise in Australia’s foreign assets, driven by strong price revaluation effects.

Australia's net foreign equity decreased $0.3 billion to an asset position of $301.1 billion at September quarter 2022. Australia's net foreign debt increased by $16.7 billion to a liability position of $1,162.7 billion.

Media notes