Australia's trade balance more than doubled in February, soaring by $3.43 billion to reach a seasonally adjusted surplus of $5.67 billion.
The performance, a jump from the $2.26 billion recorded in January, was primarily underpinned by a dramatic shift in the movement of non-monetary gold.
As global investors sought refuge in haven assets amid rising international tensions, the value of Australian gold exports surged by $1.82 billion, while gold imports simultaneously contracted by $1.37 billion.
The dual effect provided a substantial buffer for the national accounts, offsetting broader weakness in the resources sector.
Total goods exports climbed $2.12 billion month-on-month to hit $45.65 billion, even as traditional powerhouses like iron ore and liquefied natural gas faced downward pressure.
Both iron ore lumps and fines saw a decline in unit values and volumes, while hard coking coal and thermal coal also registered softer performance.
Conversely, total goods imports fell by $1.30 billion to $39.96 billion, further widening the trade gap in Australia's favour.
Economists note that while these figures reflect a healthy start to the year, they do not yet account for the heightened volatility in global supply chains following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict in March.