Preliminary estimates for December indicate that the index increased by 8.1 per cent (on a monthly average basis) in SDR terms, after increasing by 11.8 per cent in November (revised). The increase was led by the prices of iron ore and coking coal. The base metals subindex increased in the month, while the rural subindex declined. In Australian dollar terms, the index rose by 9.3 per cent in December.

Over the past year, the index has increased by 45.5 per cent in SDR terms, led by higher coking coal and iron ore prices. The index has increased by 39.7 per cent in Australian dollar terms.