SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased 3.4% ($12.0m) to $369.5m in the December quarter 2016. The largest contributor to the increase in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (up 4.3%, $10.0m). The current quarter estimate is 4.6% higher than the December quarter 2015 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 5.8% ($20.6m) to $374.9m in the December quarter 2016. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Western Australia (up 8.0%, $18.5m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 6.2% ($23.6m) to $403.1m in the December quarter 2016. Exploration on areas of new deposits rose 15.0% ($17.1m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 2.5% ($6.7m).

In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on gold (up 14.6%, $23.2m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 1.2% in the December quarter 2016. The current quarter estimate is 9.1% higher than the December quarter 2015 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 2.9% in the December quarter 2016.

In original terms, metres drilled rose 2.6%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 22.3% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 5.9%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 2.9% (-$9.5m) to $320.0m in the December quarter 2016. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 30.9% (-$10.2m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 1.0% ($3.0m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 10.8% (-$38.8m) to $320.8m in the December quarter 2016. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 26.2% (-$7.8m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 9.4% (-$30.9m).

The largest contributor to the decrease in the trend estimate was Western Australia (down 9.3%, -$20.8m) and the largest contributor to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Northern Territory (down 38.6%, -$24.1m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 0.1% ($0.1m) to $77.0m in the December quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling rose 6.9% ($2.6m) and other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 5.4% (-$2.1m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 23.7% (-$22.2m) to $71.3m in the December quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling fell 1.7% (-$0.7m) and other onshore petroleum exploration fell 41.7% (-$21.5m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 3.2% (-$8.2m) to $244.4m in the December quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling fell 17.5% (-$25.7m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 16.6% ($17.5m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 6.2% (-$16.5m) to $249.5m in the December quarter 2016. Expenditure on drilling fell 1.8% (-$2.4m) and other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 10.9% (-$14.1m).

NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
March 2017	5 June 2017
June 2017	4 September 2017
September 2017	4 December 2017
December 2017	5 March 2018

CHANGES TO THE CURRENT ISSUE

• There are no changes to this issue.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.