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Mining - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Ryan Tan Ryan Tan Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: November 2024 ANZSIC B

Revenue

$407.2bn

2024-25

$407.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xbn

Employees

219k

Businesses

7,470

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Mining industry analysis

Australia has a large supply of mineral, hydrocarbon and non-mineral reserves, which are often high quality and close to the Earth’s surface, enabling Australia’s Mining division to be globally price competitive. The division is export-oriented, with exports accounting for around 70% of division revenue. Fluctuations in commodity prices have fuelled revenue volatility over the past few years. Energy supply shocks, driven by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, have sent global energy prices soaring, boosting the value of coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports over the past few years. Softening energy prices in the two years through 2024-25 will constrain energy export revenue and weaken subdivision expansion. Iron ore prices have also fluctuated significantly in recent years. Iron ore prices climbed to a peak in 2020-21 because of supply chain disruptions in Brazil. However, a recent property market crisis in China has weakened steel demand, causing iron ore prices to sink and reach a two-year low in September 2024. The price bounced back in October 2024 amid optimism surrounding the Chinese economy and stimulus measures, but is forecast to drop in 2024-25. Division revenue is expected to dip at an annualised 0.8% over the five years through 2024-25, to $407.2 billion. This includes an anticipated fall of 10.4% in 2024-25 as the value of coal, LNG and iron ore exports ease on the back of softening prices.

Trends and Insights

  • A slowdown in China’s economy and the nation's shaky property sector have weakened steel demand, triggering a slump in iron ore prices. Iron ore prices hit a two-year low in September 2024, weighing down subdivision revenue.
  • The Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted global energy markets and propelled energy prices, boosting the value of coal and LNG exports. Easing prices have constrained these segments' growth in the two years through 2024-25.
  • Western Australia has the most mining activity. It produces most of Australia’s iron ore, nickel and lithium, and the state accounts for a sizeable portion of domestic natural gas production and 70% of Australia’s gold production.
  • Miners compete based on resource quality and production costs. Higher grades and conveniently located deposits help maximise the value of projects. Higher quality ores may attract price premiums or require less processing.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $407.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

China’s property market turmoil and slowing economic activity have constrained commodity demand

  • China is the largest export destination for Australia’s iron ore, gold, copper, zinc and other commodities. The country’s zero-COVID policy constrained domestic economic activity, hampering steel consumption and driving down its iron ore demand in 2022.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Mining
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Robust production volumes will offset revenue declines

  • Production and export volumes for key commodities like iron ore, gold, copper and lithium are forecast to climb over the next few years as major miners expand production. The continued ramp-up of BHP's South Flank, Rio Tinto's Gudai-Darri and Fortescue's Eliwana projects in Western Australia is set to support iron ore production growth.

Biggest companies in the Mining

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
BHP
59,000.0
Rio Tinto
50,400.0
Glencore
22,300.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 11 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Mining
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Coal, Oil and gas and Other metal ores. Coal is the largest segment of the Mining.

Trends and Insights

Robust domestic production volumes have offset the iron ore segment's decline

  • Australia is the world’s largest iron ore producer, accounting for over half of global iron ore exports. Domestic production is concentrated in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Mining division includes all operations that mainly extract or explore for minerals or hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and provide a variety of services to firms engaged in these activities.

What's included in this industry?

CoalOil and gasIron oreGold, copper, bauxite, nickel, zinc, silver, manganese, tin and leadNon-metallic mineral mining and quarryingMineral and petroleum explorationMining support services

Companies

BHPRio TintoGlencore

Purchase this report to view all 11 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

COKING COALSTEAMING COALNATURAL GAS

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC B - Mining

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

A slowdown in China’s economy and the nation's shaky property sector have weakened steel demand, triggering a slump in iron ore prices. Iron ore prices hit a two-year low in ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted global energy markets and propelled energy prices, boosting the value of coal and LNG exports. Easing prices have constrained these segm...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Western Australia has the most mining activity. It produces most of Australia’s iron ore, nickel and lithium, and the state accounts for a sizeable portion of domestic natura...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Miners compete based on resource quality and production costs. Higher grades and conveniently located deposits help maximise the value of projects. Higher quality ores may at...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Mining companies have been rationalising their portfolios. Miners have been divesting assets, positioning themselves for a low-emission future where access to capital will be...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of BHP's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Rio Tinto's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Glencore's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 8 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for BHP, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Rio Tinto, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Glencore, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 8 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Revenue volatility has been high despite the range of commodities produced within the broader Mining division. Supply shocks and geopolitical tensions have triggered commodit...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Rising commodity prices have increased division margins, as profit margins for coal and LNG exporters have improved. However, higher energy prices have also increased product...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Mining industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Mining industry in Australia is $407.2bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Mining industry in 2024?

There are 7,470 businesses in the Mining industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Mining industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Mining industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Mining industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Mining industry in Australia is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Mining market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Mining market in Australia are BHP, Rio Tinto and Glencore

What does the Mining in Australia include?

Coal and Oil and gas are part of the Mining industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Mining in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is BHP.

How competitive is the Mining industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Mining industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Wind and Other Electricity Generation in Australia
  • Solar Electricity Generation in Australia
  • Forestry and Logging in Australia

Complementors

  • Petroleum Refining and Petroleum Fuel Manufacturing in Australia
  • Iron Smelting and Steel Manufacturing in Australia
  • Copper, Silver, Lead and Zinc Smelting and Refining in Australia
  • Gold and Other Non-Ferrous Metal Processing in Australia

International industries

  • Global Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
  • Mining in the US
  • Gold & Silver Ore Mining in Canada
  • Iron Ore Mining in New Zealand
  • Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas Extraction in Germany

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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