The Reserve Bank of Australia published preliminary estimates for its March Index of Commodity Prices showing a 2.6 per cent rise in SDR terms on a monthly average basis, following a 1.6 per cent increase in February. In Australian dollar terms, the index increased by 2.1 per cent in March. All three subindices (non-rural, rural and base metals) increased over the month. Over the past year, the index rose 12.8 per cent in SDR terms (3.8 per cent in Australian dollar terms), with higher prices for gold, lithium, coking coal and rural commodities offsetting declines in iron ore and alumina. For the most recent months, export prices for iron ore, coking coal, thermal coal and LNG use preliminary estimates based on market information; on a spot-price basis for bulk commodities, the index increased by 3.5 per cent in March in SDR terms and was 16.5 per cent higher over the year.
Reserve Bank of Australia 2026-04-01
Reserve Bank of Australia reports March commodity price index up 2.6 per cent in SDR terms and 12.8 per cent over the year
The Reserve Bank of Australia released preliminary March estimates for its Index of Commodity Prices, showing a 2.6 per cent monthly increase in Special Drawing Rights terms and 2.1 per cent in Australian dollar terms, with all three subindices higher. Year-on-year, the index rose 12.8 per cent in Special Drawing Rights terms and 3.8 per cent in Australian dollar terms, driven by higher prices for gold, lithium, coking coal and rural commodities, partly offset by lower iron ore and alumina prices. Using spot prices for bulk commodities, the index increased 3.5 per cent in March in Special Drawing Rights terms and was 16.5 per cent higher over the year.