Australia’s monthly trade surplus widened in June as iron-ore shipments gained while overall exports slid less than imports. The windfall was A$11.3 billion ($7.4 billion), compared with estimates for a A$10.75 billion gain and a downwardly revised A$10.5 billion in May, Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed Thursday. Overall exports slid 2%, while imports dropped 4% in the month. Thursday’s data showed metal ores and minerals, which includes iron ore, climbed 2.3%, while coal, coke and briquettes fell 6.5%, the data showed. Other mineral fuels, which includes liquefied natural gas, declined 8.9%. Australia has ... (full story)