Australia posted a seasonally adjusted merchandise trade surplus of A$856 million in June, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday - down 58 percent on month.
The headline figure was well shy of forecasts for a surplus of A$1.80 billion and down sharply from the A$2.471 billion surplus in May.
Exports were down A$439 million or 1.0 percent on month to A$31.779 billion.
Non-rural goods shed A$740 million (4 percent) and net exports of goods under merchanting lost A$1 million (4 percent).
Non-monetary gold surged A$406 million (27 percent) and rural goods added A$26 million (1 percent). Services credits fell A$129 million (2 percent).
Imports gained A$730 million or 2.0 percent to A$30.923 billion.
Capital goods jumped A$733 million (13 percent), non-monetary gold skyrocketed A$238 million (76 percent) and consumption goods added A$194 million (2 percent).
Intermediate and other merchandise goods shed A$406 million (4 percent). Services debits fell A$30 million.
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