In the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) latest December 2025 quarterly mineral exploration expenditure statistics show gold exploration spend rises 49.3% year-on-year across the nation.
Another commodity spike on the annual figures is mineral sands exploration spend, which increased 96.7% nationally.
Despite this jump in exploration spend, mineral exploration remained flat at the end of 2025, recording a 1.5% decline in original terms to $1.05 billion, compared to $1.07 billion in the previous quarter.
In Western Australia, exploration expenditure was marginally down by 1.3% for the quarter but rose over 7% year-on-year. New South Wales also rose both year-on-year spend at 16.3% and 17.7% for the December quarter.
Queensland exploration expenditure went from $139 million to $117 million, representing a 15.5% drop for the December quarter. South Australia also recorded a decrease by 5% during the December quarter, with a 23% drop year-on-year to $49.2 million.
Exploration spend in Tasmania increased 45.7% and Victoria’s spend also rose 16.3% year-on-year.
While expenditure remains flat, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) says it is ‘encouraging’ to see an increase in metres drilled, with an uptick of 11.4%. This demonstrates the level of activity has not diminished.
CEO Warren Pearce says this latest data confirms “strong” industry sentiment over the last six months, with investment starting to flow in 2026.
“With drilling metres increasing more than double figures over the last twelve months, it demonstrates confidence in the exploration space and a desire for exploration teams to get on the ground,” Pearce says.
“And with a surging gold price, it is no surprise that has led to a significant jump in gold exploration spend.”
This news comes after gold’s spot price rose past US$5,600 ($7,937) an ounce, fuelled by US and Israel’s attacks on Iran, as reported.
Over the past month, gold’s price has risen 8.81% and is up 78.2% compared to the same time last year, according to Trading Economics.
AMEC is an industry association representing over 500 member companies across Australia. Its members are explorers, emerging miners, producers and a wide range of associated businesses and service providers.
Mining.com.au is an official association member of AMEC.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: AMEC
