Australian Market News (1/11/2025 to 7/11/2025)

1. Reserve Bank of Australia keeps policy rate unchanged

At its regular meeting in November 2025, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to keep the base rate unchanged at 3.6%. The decision was made after the RBA Board assessed that inflation had shown signs of rising again in recent months, while warning that rents and some services could continue to rise in 2026.

RBA Policy Rate Chart Over Time

Core inflation in Australia rose to 3% in September 2025, the top of the RBA target range, and is forecast to rise to 3.7% by mid-2026. Several major banks, including Commonwealth Bank, have also abandoned previous forecasts of further rate cuts in the near future.

2.Australia's merchandise exports in September 2025 increased compared to the previous month

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Australia's merchandise import and export trade in September 2025 recovered compared to the previous month, in which merchandise export turnover reached 44.6 billion AUD, up 7.9% compared to the previous month, mainly in the non-monetary goods group.

Chart of Australian merchandise exports by month)

On the other hand, Australia's merchandise imports in September 2025 also recorded a slight increase (+1.1%) compared to the previous month, reaching 40.6 billion AUD. The trade surplus in September 2025 reached 2.8 billion AUD, a sharp increase compared to 1.8 billion AUD the previous month.

3. The scale of illegal cigarette trade in Australia is up to 4 billion AUD

The illicit tobacco trade has become one of Australia’s fastest growing economic crime sectors, with a value of up to AUD 4 billion in the 2023-2024 financial year. This has led to increased criminal activity and violence as criminal organisations have repurposed the proceeds into other criminal activities.

Contraband cigarettes seized in Australia

These illegal trade activities negatively impact Australia's economy and society, causing lost tax revenue, increasing health care costs and reducing productivity... The 2023-24 statistical value marks a four-fold increase compared to the 2020-21 period, making the trade in smuggled cigarettes the second largest illegal commodity after drugs.

4. Macquaire Group achieves semi-annual profit of 1.7 billion AUD

Macquarie Group achieved a net profit of nearly 1.7 billion AUD for the six months ended 30/9/2025, up 3% compared to 1.6 billion AUD in the same period thanks to asset management performance, but this result was lower than analysts' expectations.

Macquarie's office

Macquarie is a diversified company, focusing mainly on banking, fund management... As of September 30, 2025, total assets under management reached AUD 959.1 billion, up 5% year-on-year and 2% higher than the first half of the year. This increase in assets was supported by market volatility and higher net asset valuations. Macquarie's net operating income in the first half of the year was AUD 8.7 billion, up 6% year-on-year, while operating expenses increased by 5%.

4. China extends short-term visa exemption policy for citizens of Australia and some other countries

China will extend its visa-free policy for citizens from 45 countries, including Australia, France, Germany and Sweden…; this policy will take effect from November 10, 2025 to December 31, 2026. Accordingly, citizens from Australia and eligible countries can enter China for business, tourism , family visits or transit for up to 30 days without a visa.

International tourists in China

In recent years, China has exempted visas for citizens from dozens of countries as part of its efforts to attract foreign tourists and revive the tourism industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, citizens from the US, UK and Canada are not included in this program.

5.China resumes imports of Australian rapeseed after 5-year hiatus

China has agreed to import 65,000 tonnes of Australian canola, resuming imports of the product after a five-year hiatus. The first shipment will depart from a Western Australian port for China later this week.

Canola grown in Australia

Australian rapeseed has been banned from entering China since 2020 due to concerns over the pandemic; however, recent tensions between China and Canada – one of the world’s largest canola exporters – could present export opportunities for Australian farmers. Australia is currently the world’s second-largest exporter of rapeseed, much of which is grown in Western Australia, with production forecast to reach 5.2 million tonnes this year, valued at more than $4.2 billion.

6. US Lithium mining group may close plant in Western Australia

US lithium giant Albemarle could shut down its Western Australia plant, hurting its ambitions to become a minerals powerhouse. The group had previously planned a major expansion of its refinery north of Bunbury, Western Australia, which was expected to double lithium hydroxide output after two new processing lines came online.

Kent Masters, CEO of Albermarle

The reason for Albermarl's decision is said to be the global oversupply that has caused lithium prices to plummet, forcing the company to consider suspending its second production line and canceling plans to build a third line, while the plant's first processing line is still operating.

7. Vietnam Trade Office in Australia sends a business delegation to attend the Autumn Fair

From October 25 to November 4, 2025, the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia brought a delegation of 07 Australian enterprises operating in fields such as automobiles and components, monitoring equipment, pharmaceuticals and health, education, smart technology to Vietnam to attend the first Autumn Fair. Participating in the Fair, enterprises were arranged 06 booths and participated in sideline networking activities such as: working directly with the Department of Industry and Trade and business associations, enterprises of the provinces and cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, Tay Ninh; visiting and working directly with the University of Transport Technology, Viettel High Tech, Institute for Industry and Trade Policy Strategy Research, ... Thereby, the parties exchanged and discussed the contents and potential areas of cooperation.

Vietnam Trade Office in Australia supports connecting Australian business delegations with the Department of Industry and Trade and a number of associations and businesses in Da Nang City.

After the trip, Australian businesses responded very positively about the results of their participation in the fair as well as the support that the Organizing Committee (Trade Promotion Agency) and the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia had given to the delegation, and expressed their desire to continue having the opportunity to participate in trade promotion events organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the future.

Some reference links about the activities of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia supporting the Australian Business delegation at the Autumn Fair:

https://vtcnews.vn/doanh-nghiep-quoc-te-mang-gi-den-hoi-cho-mua-thu-lan-thu-nhat-2025-ar983258.html

https://congthuong.vn/hoi-cho-mua-thu-2025-doanh-nghiep-uc-tim-co-hoi-hop-tac-tai-viet-nam-427419.html

https://utt.edu.vn/utt/khoa-hoc/hoat-dong-khcn-dmst/utt-thuc-day-hop-tac-voi-cac-doi-tac-uc-trong-dao-tao-nghien-cuu-va-ho-tro-sinh-vien-a16560.html

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/thi-truong-nuoc-ngoai/ban-tin-thi-truong-uc-tu-1-11-2025-den-7-11-2025-.html