Australia posted a seasonally adjusted current account deficit of A$8.510 billion in the first three months of 2013, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday - gaining 42 percent on quarter.
The headline figure beat forecasts for a shortfall of A$9 billion following the revised deficit of A$14.759 in the previous three months (originally A$14.678 billion).
Net exports of GDP came in at 1.0 percent, also topping expectations for 0.8 percent after showing 0.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The trade balance was a seasonally adjusted surplus of A$367 million in the first quarter.
Net primary income was up 7 percent, from a deficit of A$9.229 billion in Q4 to a shortfall of A$8.548 billion.
The international investment position was A$877.075 billion, including A$763.578 billion in net foreign debt and A$113.498 billion in net foreign equity. The investment position was A$864.282 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012.
The financial account balance came in at a surplus of A$9.62 billion, down from the revised surplus of A$16.35 billion in the three months prior.
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