In the fourth quarter of 2025, Australia's export prices rose by 3.2% compared to the previous quarter, rebounding from a 0.9% decline in the third quarter. This marks the first rise in export prices in three quarters and represents the most rapid increase in the past year. The primary drivers of this recovery were contributions from gold, non-monetary, which saw a substantial increase of 19.5%, as demand for gold remained strong due to continued geopolitical and economic uncertainties. Metalliferous ores and metal scrap rose by 2.6%, spurred by improved market sentiment, with a notable uptick in iron ore demand stemming from seasonal restocking in China. Coal, coke, and briquettes experienced a 3.6% rise, fueled by escalating metallurgical coal prices.
Conversely, these gains were partially offset by declines in gas, both natural and manufactured, which fell by 5.2%. This was attributed to decreases in petroleum gases, as oil-indexed contracts reacted to the lower crude oil prices of Q3 2025. Furthermore, petroleum and petroleum products decreased by 6.7%, influenced by increased production by OPEC+ nations earlier in the year. Year-over-year through to the fourth quarter, export prices experienced a 0.3% decline, following a slight 0.1% increase observed in the third quarter.
