Australia’s import prices fell 1.1% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2026, reversing a 5.7% rise in Q2 and defying market expectations of a 1.3% increase. This was the first quarterly decline since Q3 2025, largely driven by an 8.7% drop in petroleum and related product prices, as lower oil prices reflected improved global supply following the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Fertiliser prices excluding crude tumbled 20.2%, underpinned by declines in urea and potassium chloride prices amid the resumption of Chinese exports and an easing of shipping disruptions. Prices for non-monetary gold also fell, down 5.0% over the quarter.
By contrast, prices for office and automatic data processing (ADP) machinery climbed 7.3%, supported by strong demand for data-centre, cloud-computing and AI-related equipment, as well as elevated manufacturing and supply-chain costs. Telecommunications equipment prices rose 4.1%, reflecting robust demand for high-performance devices and higher component costs.
