Australia’s mining industry is a cornerstone of its national economy. In 2023, its mining industry generated revenues of $527.2bn.
In terms of annual production volumes, it is in the top-three exporters of iron ore (858 million tonnes), gold (321 tonnes), lead (619,000 tonnes), zinc (1.4 million tonnes) and bauxite (75 million tonnes).
For thermal coal, Australia extracts around 300 million tonnes yearly, placing it second only behind Indonesia.
Australia is currently reframing its laws governing foreign investment in its mining sector, in a move aimed to bolster its role as a global player in the energy transition. The law changes will increase the domestic processing of critical minerals and the production of green technology and energy.
Here, Mining Digital takes a look at the top 10 major players in the Australian mining industry.
10. Whitehaven Coal
Market cap: $4.19bn
The dominant player in Australia’s only emerging high-quality coal basin, the company operates a total of four mines in the Gunnedah Coal Basin of NSW. The main operating assets are complemented by two high-quality, near-term development assets, being Vickery, near Gunnedah, and Winchester South, in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
The company helps to power emerging economies throughout Asia, where there is still a strong demand for coal.
09. IGO
Market cap: $7.11bn
IGO Ltd (IGO) is a mining company that focuses on the acquisition, exploration, production and development of gold, copper, nickel, zinc, cobalt and silver deposits properties.
IGO owns and operates the Nova nickel-copper-cobalt operation, the Forrestania Nickel operation and the Cosmos Nickel operation – all in Western Australia.
In addition, IGO has a stake in a lithium-focused joint venture with partner, Tianqi Lithium Corporation. This venture consists of a 51% stake in the Greenbushes Lithium Mine and a 100% interest in a downstream processing refinery at Kwinana that produces lithium hydroxide that is suitable for use in batteries.
08. Pilbara Minerals
Market cap: $7,8bn
An Australian lithium and tantalite mining company, Pilbara Minerals owns 100% of the world’s largest independent hard-rock lithium operation. Founded in 2005, the company has been at the forefront of lithium supply chains, fuelling the clean energy revolution.
Located in Western Australia’s resource-rich Pilbara region, the company’s Pilgangoora Project produces a spodumene and tantalite concentrate.
07. Northern Star Resources
Market cap: $10.58bn
With a main concentration on gold mining, Northern Star Resources has three gold production projects located in Australia and North America. Namely, Kalgoorlie, Yandal and Pogo, which are all within highly-prospective geological settings.
In February of 2021, the company completed a merger with Saracen Minerals to create the only large-cap gold mining company.
06. Mineral Resources
Market cap: $10.40bn
With mining operations across multiple commodities, including iron ore and lithium, Mineral Resources operates throughout Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
It operates through five segments: Mining services and processing, iron ore, lithium, other commodities, and central.
