Research on Mining and Construction Industries in Australia

Mining has long been a cornerstone of the Australian economy. Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium and a global top five producer of gold, iron ore, lead, zinc, and nickel.  It also has the world’s largest uranium and fourth largest black coal resources, respectively.  As the fourth largest mining country in the world (after China, the United States, and Russia), Australia will have ongoing demand for high-tech mining equipment, representing potential opportunities for U.S. suppliers.

There are over 350 operating mine sites across the country, of which approximately one-third are in Western Australia (WA), one-quarter in Queensland (QLD) and one-fifth in New South Wales (NSW), making them the three major mining states. By volume, Australia’s two most important mineral commodities are iron ore (29 mines) – of which 97% is mined in WA – and coal (over 90 mines), which is largely mined on the east coast, in the states of QLD and NSW.