The country's trade performance deteriorated again in the three months to the end of June.
The difference between earnings from exports and payments for imports was a $217 million deficit for the quarter.
Earnings from exports fell by 5.4% to $10.2 billion, the second consecutive quarterly decrease.
A fall in earnings from dairy products was the main reason behind the drop in export earnings despite higher volumes.
Imports decreased 3.4% to $10.4 billion. The imports were boosted by Jetstar's delivery of several large aircraft worth $571 million.
Without one-off imports, June quarter's imports would have fallen 8.7%.
Without the aircraft delivery, the June month would have had a seasonally adjusted surplus of $154 million.
The deficit follows a nil balance on trade in the first three months of this year but was smaller than previous deficits stretching back to 2002.
ANZ National Bank chief economist Cameron Bagrie does not expect the surprise trade deficit to affect the Reserve Bank's decision on interest rates this Thursday.
The bank is widely expected to keep the Official Cash Rate on hold at 2.5%.
