8418.0 - Mining Statistics Newsletter, 2009 to 2010  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 10/06/2010  Final
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Mining Statistics | news



AUSTRALIA'S PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF MINERALS


Mining broadly relates to the extraction of minerals occurring naturally as solids such as coal and ores, liquids such as crude petroleum, or gases such as natural gas. The mining industry contributes about 8% to Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) and half of the value of total goods exported.

Compared to other mining nations, Australia continues to rank as one of the world's leaders with a large percentage of some of the world's economic demonstrated resources (EDR's - which are proven or provable resource reserves). As at December 2008, Australia had 38% of the EDR (including resources which are inaccessible for mining because of environmental restrictions, government policies or military lands) for nickel, 38% for uranium, 33% for lead, 28% of zinc and 25% for brown coal. Other significant amounts of the world’s EDR (including inaccessible resources) reserves within Australia include 20% of silver, 16% of industrial diamonds, 15% of iron ore and 13% of gold.

On an industry basis, the mining industry over the last four years has almost tripled the value of exports with sales in 2008-09 valued at $117.6b. In terms of production in that period, the main mineral products were black coal (raw), iron ore, bauxite and alumina while natural gas and crude oil and condensate were the two main petroleum (field) products.

The major markets for Australian mineral and petroleum are Japan (25% of total mineral exports by value), China, Republic of (South) Korea and India.