Australia’s imports returned to growth in January 2026, rising 0.8% month-over-month after a 1.8% decline in December 2025, according to data updated on 5 March 2026. The shift marks a clear turnaround in the country’s recent trade dynamics, ending a short-lived contraction in inbound goods.
The latest figures show that while December’s reading reflected a pullback compared with November 2025, January’s performance indicates a renewed appetite for foreign products and inputs. On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” reading for January compares import activity with December 2025, whereas the “previous” figure measured December’s changes against November 2025.
The move back into positive territory may signal improving domestic demand or the rebuilding of inventories after year-end softness, though further data will be needed to confirm whether January’s rebound represents the start of a sustained trend in Australia’s import growth.
