Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King says Australia continues to be a “trusted and reliable” supplier of resources and energy, following the release of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) June Resources and Energy Quarterly.
According to DISR’s latest report, Australia’s gold sector is ranked third in production, with 258 tonnes exported in 2023-24, valued at $33 billion.
The gold output in Australia is forecast to rise over the outlook period, reaching 260 tonnes a year by 2027. DISR says the output will increase across multiple existing large-scale operations and new projects.
Concurrently, gold exports are forecast at $56 billion in 2025-26, which is up $21 billion from the March 2025 quarterly report. In 2026-27, gold exports are estimated at $52 billion, which is up $20 billion from the same report.
Meanwhile, Australia’s copper sector – ranked second in the world for resources and fifth largest refined exporter globally – is estimated to rise, with export earnings forecast at $13.2 billion in 2024025.
DISR reports the export earnings are forecast to continue to grow to $18.2 billion in 2026-27 due to increased supply and higher prices.
In 2024-25, Australia’s copper export volumes were 793,000 tonnes, representing a 5.3% increase from 2023-24.
Australia’s lithium export earnings are forecast to increase from $4.6 billion in 2024-25 to $6.6 billion in 2026-27, driven by growth in export volumes. Australian mine output is expected to increase by more than 7% a year to 2027.
King says export volumes are forecast to increase marginally over the next two years and to continue to support jobs and Australia’s economy.
“While global commodity prices are easing, the report suggests Australian resources companies will continue to remain competitive on the global stage,” she says.
“Higher prices for gold, and forecast higher copper and lithium exports, are partly offsetting the impact of lower prices for iron ore, coal, and LNG.”
Australia’s resources and energy sector contributes around 11.4% of gross domestic production and makes up around two-thirds of the nation’s total merchandise exports.
The Australian Government has also invested $3,4 billion in its Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative to provide the geoscience that is foundational to the resources sector. The government has also legislated $7 billion worth of production tax credits to strengthen domestic critical minerals processing.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
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