Minerals and their products are NSW’s major merchandise export, representing 34 per cent or around $7.7 billion. Coal, iron, steel and aluminium are the state’s major mineral and processed metal exports. The exports of mineral ores from NSW were worth more than $4 billion in 2003-04, and are likely to exceed $5 billion in 2004-05 with increased production and higher world prices for most resources.
Coal, with export revenue of $2.9 billion, accounted for 15 per cent of the State’s exports in 2002-03. This is the equivalent to the value of more than 100,000 imported cars.
NSW is the home to many companies involved in the manufacture of mining machinery, equipment and technology and the provision of services for mining including consulting services and computer software. Over the last decade consulting and software has developed into a leading exporter. Current estimates put the annual value of exports of mining equipment, technology and services at around $2 billion.