The Australian Index of Commodity Prices climbed 2.6% in March when measured in special drawing rights terms on a monthly average basis, after a 1.6% increase in February, the Reserve Bank of Australia reported Wednesday.

The non-rural, rural, and base metals subindices all rose in the month.

In Australian dollar terms, the index was up by 2.1% in the month and by 3.8% over the past year, per the report.

The index soared 12.8% in special drawing rights terms when compared with the previous year. Lower iron ore and alumina were more than offset by increases in the price of gold, lithium, coking coal, and rural commodity prices.

Using spot prices for the bulk commodities index, the index rose 3.5% in special drawing rights terms in March, to be 16.5% higher over the past year.