Australia ran an unexpected trade deficit of A$3.0 bln in May (about $2.1 bln), the second monthly deficit this year and the largest gap since 2015, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Thursday. Exports fell 6.9% month-on-month while imports rose nearly 3%, driven by higher fuel costs and sustained data‑centre equipment purchases. The Middle East conflict pushed import spending higher: fuel and lubricants purchases reached a record A$8.6 bln in May, the second month above A$8.0 bln. Data‑ce

Australia ran an unexpected trade deficit of A$3.0 bln in May (about $2.1 bln), the second monthly deficit this year and the largest gap since 2015, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said Thursday. Exports fell 6.9% month-on-month while imports rose nearly 3%, driven by higher fuel costs and sustained data‑centre equipment purchases. The Middle East conflict pushed import spending higher: fuel and lubricants purchases reached a record A$8.6 bln in May, the second month above A$8.0 bln. Data‑centre equipment imports remain elevated, though below March’s peak; HSBC says Australia’s data‑centre buildout ranks among the world’s largest. On the export side, gold exports fell by more than A$2.0 bln and LNG shipments declined, weighing on overall export receipts.