Mineral and energy exports from South Australia have broken previous records, with an increase of 32.5 per cent in the 12 months leading up to March 2023.
Refined copper led the way with exports up $958 million or 62.6 per cent, with the state’s copper production on the rise and Olympic Dam reporting increased production following smelter de-bottlenecking.
As the world’s appetite for copper continues to grow, South Australia is in a prime position with projects in the pipeline and exploration activity reporting new copper resources, including BHP’s Oak Dam deposit and Coda Minerals’ Emmie Bluff and Elizabeth Creek deposits.
This activity bodes well for South Australia’s resource industry and helps to maintain its position as a tier one copper jurisdiction.
South Australia’s Minister for Energy and Mining, Tom Koutsantonis, said South Australia continues to be an attractive place for miners.
“Copper remains an essential metal for the global energy transformation and South Australia’s production helps to support countries to use greater electrification of their economies to reduce their carbon footprints.
“Our mining sector is a significant component in the state’s overall trade performance, supporting agriculture, wine and manufacturing industries, and a pipeline of approvals for new mines coming to market will ensure that the minerals sector continues to support future export growth,” Mr Koutsantonis said.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics figures also showed iron ore up by $109 million, or 11.7 per cent.
