Australian Copper Production & Export Statistics

The Australian Copper Ledger · quarterly statistics

Australian Copper Production & Export Statistics

Name: Australian Copper Production and Export Statistics
Creator: Mining Capital Funds
Published: 2026-08-29
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Every quarter of Australia's copper output since 1990, split by state, with smelter and refinery production, exports by form and destination, export earnings, the world price against the price Australian producers actually realised, and exploration spending — taken straight from the federal Resources and Energy Quarterly.

By Clint Zahmel, Mining Capital Funds

Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, Office of the Chief Economist
Edition: June 2026
Covers: 1990 Q1 → 2026 Q1
States: NSW, Qld, WA, SA, Tas
Licence: CC BY 4.0

Mine output · 12 months712ktcontained copper, to 2026 Q1

Export earnings13.7A$b12 months to 2026 Q1

Refined in Australia60%of the copper mined, up from 52% five years earlier

South Australia48%of national output, against 27% for New South Wales

By state

Copper content of all minerals produced, which is the metal in the rock rather than the weight of concentrate.

South Australia and New South Wales produce 76 per cent of Australia's copper

Australia mined 712 thousand tonnes of contained copper in the twelve months to 2026 Q1. South Australia alone accounted for 345 thousand tonnes, or 48 per cent, and New South Wales a further 193 thousand tonnes. Queensland, once the centre of the industry, contributed 108 thousand tonnes, having fallen 48 per cent over five years. Western Australia produced 66 thousand tonnes and Tasmania 1.2 thousand tonnes.

Copper production by state

thousand tonnes of contained copper per quarter

Copper content of all minerals produced, thousand tonnes per quarter, 1990 Q1 to 2026 Q1. The Resources and Energy Quarterly publishes five states and a national total; the Northern Territory is not broken out, so the bands here need not sum exactly to Australia. Over the full record the difference reaches 8.8 kt in a quarter, but the last quarter in which it exceeded half a thousand tonnes was 2008 Q4, and it has been rounding ever since. Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026 edition.

Copper production by state, contained copper, thousand tonnes per quarter
Quarter	South Australia	New South Wales	Queensland	Western Australia	Tasmania	Australia
2026 Q1	87.00	48.00	9.00	14.00	0.32	158.00
2025 Q4	80.66	46.54	31.13	16.26	0.32	174.91
2025 Q3	81.01	51.56	39.15	16.66	0.28	188.65
2025 Q2	96.19	47.24	28.35	18.79	0.29	190.86
2025 Q1	84.35	41.65	28.87	16.66	0.26	171.79
2024 Q4	75.94	43.80	38.64	17.55	0.37	176.30
2024 Q3	82.42	44.57	37.19	16.33	0.28	180.79
2024 Q2	94.48	49.94	33.73	23.35	0.35	201.85
2024 Q1	83.93	46.31	35.93	22.46	0.30	188.92
2023 Q4	85.20	44.13	42.71	23.44	0.33	195.81
2023 Q3	74.40	45.10	42.35	28.21	0.26	190.32
2023 Q2	84.70	44.50	36.29	27.60	0.35	193.44
2023 Q1	79.86	41.84	38.16	28.65	0.22	188.73
2022 Q4	87.40	50.83	50.68	28.74	0.38	218.03
2022 Q3	76.53	42.71	46.78	34.04	0.29	200.36
2022 Q2	77.16	52.47	39.05	40.03	0.22	208.92
2022 Q1	74.97	43.67	43.86	36.21	0.25	198.97
2021 Q4	54.10	41.82	51.83	38.25	0.42	186.43
2021 Q3	61.47	36.08	54.29	34.35	0.27	186.46
2021 Q2	81.93	51.24	45.63	40.03	0.43	219.26
2021 Q1	80.36	47.60	44.48	36.02	0.44	208.90
2020 Q4	74.76	53.75	49.03	35.26	0.61	213.40
2020 Q3	71.55	50.94	52.85	34.11	0.54	210.00
2020 Q2	74.66	54.33	61.15	39.87	0.51	230.54
2020 Q1	68.39	50.19	49.14	45.81	0.56	214.08
2019 Q4	79.98	55.41	53.26	44.30	0.43	233.38
2019 Q3	76.19	48.23	53.98	43.71	0.38	222.49
2019 Q2	81.67	55.93	58.89	43.37	0.32	240.18
2019 Q1	83.17	49.31	56.46	39.78	0.38	229.11
2018 Q4	74.41	53.40	69.97	45.36	0.41	243.55
2018 Q3	54.52	52.93	51.67	50.51	0.29	209.92
2018 Q2	72.86	46.03	63.25	46.30	0.36	228.80
2018 Q1	77.70	47.83	60.33	45.44	0.59	231.90
2017 Q4	45.95	52.35	63.64	43.67	0.36	205.97
2017 Q3	77.80	41.74	40.22	41.24	0.30	201.30
2017 Q2	76.65	38.11	55.19	46.21	0.32	216.48
2017 Q1	65.61	49.76	63.71	45.94	0.34	225.37
2016 Q4	70.72	56.23	66.53	47.81	0.51	241.80
2016 Q3	72.76	51.20	61.95	40.62	0.41	226.94
2016 Q2	71.41	52.46	71.25	46.15	0.51	241.77
2016 Q1	75.46	52.33	64.41	44.13	0.72	237.05
2015 Q4	86.30	50.13	67.23	55.41	0.66	259.73
2015 Q3	79.80	53.69	69.01	47.82	0.71	251.03
2015 Q2	63.98	57.52	71.38	47.16	0.75	240.78
2015 Q1	63.20	60.37	74.62	45.34	0.81	244.34
2014 Q4	74.83	65.15	66.18	48.41	0.73	255.30
2014 Q3	70.86	49.92	75.15	46.00	0.75	242.66
2014 Q2	79.50	46.04	64.59	42.01	0.55	232.70
2014 Q1	77.49	46.15	68.28	55.13	0.82	247.87
2013 Q4	76.52	49.45	77.54	52.60	7.08	263.19
2013 Q3	51.28	50.30	80.35	56.20	7.20	245.33
2013 Q2	70.40	47.28	68.45	49.29	7.52	242.95
2013 Q1	73.46	43.40	74.58	50.70	7.40	249.53
2012 Q4	62.18	40.52	71.48	59.44	8.14	241.77
2012 Q3	68.43	42.42	64.15	55.91	6.28	237.19
2012 Q2	80.50	41.37	59.33	40.31	6.41	227.91
2012 Q1	79.35	39.03	53.19	36.58	6.37	214.51
2011 Q4	84.10	46.19	78.20	37.95	6.58	253.03
2011 Q3	69.31	45.68	81.36	32.48	6.48	235.31
2011 Q2	79.67	42.97	75.24	35.38	6.41	239.68
2011 Q1	78.70	42.21	70.16	35.17	6.39	232.64
2010 Q4	74.97	36.78	82.18	43.78	6.50	244.21
2010 Q3	71.37	36.49	78.89	41.94	7.51	236.20
2010 Q2	65.56	36.79	61.78	36.36	7.24	207.74
2010 Q1	34.15	39.02	56.70	46.66	7.27	183.81
2009 Q4	62.63	39.60	63.28	41.44	7.24	214.20
2009 Q3	66.04	39.67	66.05	34.25	7.76	213.76
2009 Q2	73.50	41.65	72.20	34.92	7.59	229.86
2009 Q1	49.76	40.53	67.84	34.79	4.75	198.07
2008 Q4	47.65	39.31	102.48	28.93	7.50	227.46
2008 Q3	54.83	36.99	100.59	36.04	6.18	234.76
2008 Q2	57.60	35.38	88.26	26.98	7.12	215.37
2008 Q1	36.00	34.36	89.69	34.27	6.95	201.35
2007 Q4	42.80	37.93	114.62	31.42	7.14	234.10
2007 Q3	33.60	38.82	83.57	31.07	8.81	196.05
2007 Q2	47.60	44.52	84.37	29.15	6.84	212.63
2007 Q1	53.60	45.70	86.32	27.20	6.80	219.76
2006 Q4	39.70	53.24	85.07	24.93	7.35	210.41
2006 Q3	41.60	51.66	82.46	32.33	7.65	215.76
2006 Q2	54.60	52.79	95.63	22.81	8.05	233.89
2006 Q1	47.10	52.12	89.52	22.30	7.77	218.81
2005 Q4	53.50	52.48	108.12	26.59	8.34	249.03
2005 Q3	49.10	46.97	105.70	24.97	7.85	234.59
2005 Q2	52.50	39.99	98.77	23.80	7.19	222.26
2005 Q1	56.91	42.95	96.61	18.45	7.42	222.34
2004 Q4	60.39	43.00	100.88	11.97	7.12	223.36
2004 Q3	61.58	41.09	108.96	7.69	7.74	227.06
2004 Q2	54.78	40.80	103.04	11.07	7.46	217.15
2004 Q1	47.97	40.78	104.71	6.39	7.96	207.80
2003 Q4	33.42	40.74	98.35	11.55	7.15	191.21
2003 Q3	35.34	40.31	95.53	16.59	6.88	194.64
2003 Q2	49.64	37.80	128.57	11.62	7.99	235.62
2003 Q1	41.68	37.49	112.61	9.44	7.71	208.92
2002 Q4	48.33	34.47	116.95	12.64	8.06	220.44
2002 Q3	41.97	34.60	120.72	13.16	8.19	218.65
2002 Q2	38.98	36.84	108.62	13.94	8.13	206.50
2002 Q1	48.85	28.68	128.97	11.98	8.21	226.69
2001 Q4	43.61	30.34	124.65	16.35	7.68	222.62
2001 Q3	53.03	32.20	122.66	9.36	8.88	226.12
2001 Q2	51.08	31.49	128.01	9.83	8.00	228.41
2001 Q1	52.81	33.55	115.44	11.76	7.65	221.20
2000 Q4	53.01	32.64	117.65	8.42	6.70	218.42
2000 Q3	52.95	29.85	112.38	6.03	5.83	207.03
2000 Q2	48.31	34.31	125.37	4.20	6.13	218.32
2000 Q1	46.15	32.54	104.69	4.94	6.75	195.07
1999 Q4	45.09	28.33	99.69	5.82	6.80	185.72
1999 Q3	44.05	27.63	109.57	5.67	7.08	193.99
1999 Q2	27.21	26.90	114.66	4.71	7.00	189.33
1999 Q1	21.92	26.66	104.35	5.13	7.92	168.80
1998 Q4	18.25	28.95	100.49	6.03	6.89	163.27
1998 Q3	16.41	29.12	103.47	5.20	6.49	166.48
1998 Q2	19.50	27.29	86.86	5.33	6.93	151.34
1998 Q1	19.49	26.41	70.16	8.44	6.36	136.84
1997 Q4	20.64	30.43	75.29	5.07	7.29	143.68
1997 Q3	20.96	33.70	72.47	7.02	6.54	144.47
1997 Q2	21.95	29.87	66.86	5.53	6.01	133.89
1997 Q1	17.71	28.71	61.93	8.61	6.04	127.03
1996 Q4	19.91	28.47	79.68	6.80	6.29	145.37
1996 Q3	22.32	25.44	77.93	4.29	6.17	140.38
1996 Q2	23.74	22.23	70.89	5.41	5.19	131.85
1996 Q1	18.97	18.22	66.21	3.64	4.35	115.06
1995 Q4	19.70	17.76	43.02	8.02	1.53	93.71
1995 Q3	21.39	17.40	51.41	4.68	0.64	97.72
1995 Q2	18.27	16.31	32.99	3.63	0.58	74.85
1995 Q1	18.92	14.95	41.47	5.22	0.79	84.48
1994 Q4	14.78	20.25	41.16	5.61	6.22	92.08
1994 Q3	16.56	17.30	65.37	6.41	7.53	117.18
1994 Q2	16.24	14.54	51.49	4.29	9.74	100.72
1994 Q1	16.48	14.06	57.43	6.91	8.16	108.41
1993 Q4	15.02	13.11	53.03	6.42	8.06	101.82
1993 Q3	18.93	17.09	62.55	7.16	7.27	117.86
1993 Q2	17.55	14.47	47.57	3.25	7.67	97.59
1993 Q1	15.07	14.09	55.47	8.95	7.05	104.69
1992 Q4	18.20	14.57	56.60	3.13	6.91	102.76
1992 Q3	18.69	11.37	69.93	2.26	6.77	111.05
1992 Q2	20.85	9.01	43.60	1.62	6.74	84.35
1992 Q1	15.94	11.44	48.15	1.89	5.77	83.19
1991 Q4	16.59	10.48	41.95	3.39	7.11	79.51
1991 Q3	14.34	10.01	58.27	4.07	7.46	94.16
1991 Q2	12.51	9.15	48.24	1.99	6.04	78.49
1991 Q1	11.86	7.64	47.81	1.97	5.64	75.48
1990 Q4	12.77	8.05	49.41	3.13	6.45	80.38
1990 Q3	11.11	9.26	61.10	4.51	6.13	92.66
1990 Q2	10.31	8.88	52.47	4.21	5.55	84.69
1990 Q1	9.03	5.55	46.64	1.78	5.10	71.35

Ore to metal

Mining copper and refining it are different industries, and in Australia they have moved apart.

Australia refines 60 per cent of the copper it mines

Mining copper and turning it into metal are separate industries, and in Australia they have drifted apart. In the twelve months to 2026 Q1 the country mined 712 thousand tonnes of contained copper but refined only 428 thousand tonnes of it, 60 per cent. Smelters produced 402 thousand tonnes of blister, the rough metal that comes before refining. Refinery output peaked at 565 thousand tonnes in the twelve months to 2002 Q1 and has fallen 24 per cent since. The balance leaves the country as concentrate for smelters overseas. That refined share has actually risen over the past five years, from 52 per cent, but not because Australia refines more: refining fell 5 per cent while mine output fell 17 per cent, so the smaller number is simply shrinking more slowly.

Mined, smelted and refined

thousand tonnes of copper per quarter

Contained copper mined, blister from smelters and refined metal, thousand tonnes per quarter. Blister and refined are both counted as metal, so they are comparable with the mine line above them. Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026 edition.

Copper mined, smelted and refined, thousand tonnes per quarter
Quarter	Mined (contained)	Blister	Refined
2026 Q1	158.00	67.00	73.00
2025 Q4	174.91	101.40	108.43
2025 Q3	188.65	112.10	118.79
2025 Q2	190.86	121.40	127.58
2025 Q1	171.79	94.50	100.38
2024 Q4	176.30	89.40	96.75
2024 Q3	180.79	100.60	107.82
2024 Q2	201.85	110.40	117.86
2024 Q1	188.92	101.20	109.42
2023 Q4	195.81	104.00	112.74
2023 Q3	190.32	97.45	110.24
2023 Q2	193.44	103.45	115.93
2023 Q1	188.73	92.25	103.52
2022 Q4	218.03	110.60	123.26
2022 Q3	200.36	101.30	111.04
2022 Q2	208.92	92.70	101.30
2022 Q1	198.97	85.70	93.13
2021 Q4	186.43	66.10	71.79
2021 Q3	186.46	94.70	101.47
2021 Q2	219.26	106.30	114.56
2021 Q1	208.90	114.76	118.44
2020 Q4	213.40	99.34	109.78
2020 Q3	210.00	108.39	119.00
2020 Q2	230.54	100.19	103.97
2020 Q1	214.08	91.37	97.25
2019 Q4	233.38	107.62	118.34
2019 Q3	222.49	89.50	101.08
2019 Q2	240.18	104.91	111.87
2019 Q1	229.11	99.25	95.44
2018 Q4	243.55	87.87	94.46
2018 Q3	209.92	101.73	107.05
2018 Q2	228.80	88.13	85.33
2018 Q1	231.90	83.26	92.24
2017 Q4	205.97	71.95	76.91
2017 Q3	201.30	88.26	95.33
2017 Q2	216.48	110.60	118.33
2017 Q1	225.37	89.02	95.68
2016 Q4	241.80	112.10	119.20
2016 Q3	226.94	107.54	114.51
2016 Q2	241.77	109.05	116.72
2016 Q1	237.05	116.51	124.52
2015 Q4	259.73	125.92	137.76
2015 Q3	251.03	123.44	134.81
2015 Q2	240.78	85.18	94.44
2015 Q1	244.34	98.30	107.96
2014 Q4	255.30	113.40	125.89
2014 Q3	242.66	110.18	121.93
2014 Q2	232.70	124.76	135.12
2014 Q1	247.87	120.13	128.30
2013 Q4	263.19	122.72	132.31
2013 Q3	245.33	96.30	104.39
2013 Q2	242.95	111.77	120.88
2013 Q1	249.53	114.73	123.19
2012 Q4	241.77	93.65	102.69
2012 Q3	237.19	97.25	106.94
2012 Q2	227.91	116.15	127.06
2012 Q1	214.51	115.35	123.69
2011 Q4	253.03	112.33	120.86
2011 Q3	235.31	105.39	113.92
2011 Q2	239.68	115.99	124.80
2011 Q1	232.64	108.47	117.19
2010 Q4	244.21	118.53	123.23
2010 Q3	236.20	115.83	120.03
2010 Q2	207.74	104.28	108.08
2010 Q1	183.81	71.28	72.98
2009 Q4	214.20	97.82	100.65
2009 Q3	213.76	107.94	113.76
2009 Q2	229.86	115.13	121.84
2009 Q1	198.07	101.23	109.22
2008 Q4	227.46	122.04	134.39
2008 Q3	234.76	120.41	133.71
2008 Q2	215.37	119.12	133.95
2008 Q1	201.35	88.19	100.68
2007 Q4	234.10	108.00	119.95
2007 Q3	196.05	79.87	89.78
2007 Q2	212.63	102.56	112.80
2007 Q1	219.76	108.14	119.08
2006 Q4	210.41	92.06	104.71
2006 Q3	215.76	86.43	98.28
2006 Q2	233.89	99.53	113.35
2006 Q1	218.81	98.57	112.60
2005 Q4	249.03	100.19	114.63
2005 Q3	234.59	106.12	120.85
2005 Q2	222.26	100.09	111.38
2005 Q1	222.34	104.06	121.50
2004 Q4	223.36	114.34	126.04
2004 Q3	227.06	115.42	127.06
2004 Q2	217.15	108.12	124.32
2004 Q1	207.80	101.99	120.73
2003 Q4	191.21	83.63	100.67
2003 Q3	194.64	95.06	111.94
2003 Q2	235.62	122.85	143.99
2003 Q1	208.92	116.88	127.24
2002 Q4	220.44	125.07	142.67
2002 Q3	218.65	103.97	123.13
2002 Q2	206.50	107.52	136.73
2002 Q1	226.69	119.31	140.03
2001 Q4	222.62	108.06	137.11
2001 Q3	226.12	121.36	147.08
2001 Q2	228.41	120.63	141.24
2001 Q1	221.20	105.33	132.61
2000 Q4	218.42	108.90	127.43
2000 Q3	207.03	83.96	116.14
2000 Q2	218.32	103.41	126.47
2000 Q1	195.07	94.10	114.14
1999 Q4	185.72	94.37	116.89
1999 Q3	193.99	95.05	119.44
1999 Q2	189.33	81.50	100.03
1999 Q1	168.80	61.27	75.55
1998 Q4	163.27	54.46	71.61
1998 Q3	166.48	36.70	59.12
1998 Q2	151.34	64.56	78.65
1998 Q1	136.84	54.96	69.41
1997 Q4	143.68	43.96	59.26
1997 Q3	144.47	59.70	75.17
1997 Q2	133.89	62.08	78.01
1997 Q1	127.03	49.95	63.57
1996 Q4	145.37	69.17	83.94
1996 Q3	140.38	70.92	84.82
1996 Q2	131.85	72.54	84.32
1996 Q1	115.06	51.35	61.28
1995 Q4	93.71	56.66	66.73
1995 Q3	97.72	69.40	81.59
1995 Q2	74.85	45.42	53.72
1995 Q1	84.48	52.20	69.15
1994 Q4	92.08	58.30	64.01
1994 Q3	117.18	82.40	86.08
1994 Q2	100.72	101.60	86.93
1994 Q1	108.41	94.20	81.36
1993 Q4	101.82	85.90	78.83
1993 Q3	117.86	83.20	83.65
1993 Q2	97.59	93.30	75.02
1993 Q1	104.69	81.90	70.72
1992 Q4	102.76	83.50	82.13
1992 Q3	111.05	82.80	83.70
1992 Q2	84.35	77.10	71.03
1992 Q1	83.19	72.00	66.22
1991 Q4	79.51	69.10	71.78
1991 Q3	94.16	66.10	67.58
1991 Q2	78.49	67.20	65.92
1991 Q1	75.48	55.80	50.34
1990 Q4	80.38	57.20	61.95
1990 Q3	92.66	60.20	63.82
1990 Q2	84.69	61.00	65.95
1990 Q1	71.35	56.20	63.31

Exports

Concentrate is rock with the metal still locked in it; refined copper is the metal itself.

Most Australian copper leaves the country as concentrate, not as metal

In the twelve months to 2026 Q1 Australia exported 1,255 thousand tonnes of copper ores and concentrates and 404 thousand tonnes of refined copper. Those two figures are not on the same footing and must not be added: concentrate is weighed as shipped, rock and all, while refined copper is weighed as metal. Counted consistently, as contained metal, total copper exports came to 754 thousand tonnes.

Copper exports by form

thousand tonnes per quarter

Exports by form, thousand tonnes per quarter. The two lines are drawn separately rather than stacked because they count different things: ores and concentrates at gross shipped weight, refined copper as metal. The third line is the copper content of everything exported, which is the only figure comparable with mine production. Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026 edition.

Copper exports by form, thousand tonnes per quarter
Quarter	Ores & concentrates (gross)	Refined (metal)	Contained copper
2026 Q1	303.92	71.07	151.75
2025 Q4	296.30	99.61	184.52
2025 Q3	318.64	112.56	199.30
2025 Q2	336.53	120.66	217.95
2025 Q1	251.85	82.01	149.73
2024 Q4	321.57	88.15	180.98
2024 Q3	389.73	106.65	214.58
2024 Q2	312.70	103.44	194.23
2024 Q1	257.70	95.53	174.16
2023 Q4	348.68	102.04	207.05
2023 Q3	331.26	95.41	178.13
2023 Q2	410.81	107.81	225.40
2023 Q1	294.16	97.19	187.73
2022 Q4	388.44	121.76	232.64
2022 Q3	417.82	88.45	206.09
2022 Q2	458.12	91.31	226.70
2022 Q1	349.35	81.00	178.93
2021 Q4	428.66	70.29	194.64
2021 Q3	404.61	87.85	207.56
2021 Q2	425.49	111.78	235.21
2021 Q1	381.47	100.98	205.21
2020 Q4	460.59	95.18	230.34
2020 Q3	404.65	112.21	224.99
2020 Q2	487.52	99.40	238.48
2020 Q1	392.11	89.63	192.90
2019 Q4	534.84	115.83	264.86
2019 Q3	484.26	86.99	228.13
2019 Q2	431.40	111.94	238.27
2019 Q1	444.47	92.14	212.53
2018 Q4	569.41	89.64	245.64
2018 Q3	449.66	102.22	232.15
2018 Q2	581.00	74.24	239.29
2018 Q1	472.11	88.36	223.78
2017 Q4	532.50	74.31	229.24
2017 Q3	401.10	80.21	202.05
2017 Q2	460.90	114.86	245.30
2017 Q1	377.92	84.74	194.02
2016 Q4	503.21	109.20	252.50
2016 Q3	409.93	104.34	228.35
2016 Q2	442.19	123.33	254.54
2016 Q1	458.80	115.06	243.30
2015 Q4	486.63	134.55	276.30
2015 Q3	482.38	133.90	275.51
2015 Q2	511.16	82.12	227.79
2015 Q1	420.71	97.86	221.35
2014 Q4	607.85	130.43	301.36
2014 Q3	516.50	112.55	258.40
2014 Q2	522.76	121.26	267.71
2014 Q1	529.75	121.51	263.13
2013 Q4	533.23	113.89	260.67
2013 Q3	535.95	99.08	243.25
2013 Q2	557.99	99.85	253.62
2013 Q1	513.90	90.85	227.46
2012 Q4	637.50	82.49	271.34
2012 Q3	472.80	87.23	223.26
2012 Q2	467.09	103.81	241.61
2012 Q1	380.24	97.31	210.36
2011 Q4	501.10	104.50	254.94
2011 Q3	465.72	89.24	219.30
2011 Q2	431.40	91.92	221.69
2011 Q1	406.55	89.95	208.08
2010 Q4	489.70	96.45	234.90
2010 Q3	422.00	96.59	212.61
2010 Q2	493.62	75.00	219.94
2010 Q1	471.67	47.49	177.26
2009 Q4	496.08	70.87	204.97
2009 Q3	466.84	77.92	202.98
2009 Q2	480.86	86.64	211.62
2009 Q1	357.39	80.34	167.22
2008 Q4	496.42	104.44	230.90
2008 Q3	462.71	89.54	205.13
2008 Q2	384.05	91.64	184.00
2008 Q1	463.40	74.20	190.93
2007 Q4	377.97	72.91	177.53
2007 Q3	468.52	56.92	180.04
2007 Q2	342.81	79.09	167.49
2007 Q1	352.32	85.68	183.13
2006 Q4	379.49	71.96	178.14
2006 Q3	418.42	53.35	169.75
2006 Q2	359.79	80.11	180.54
2006 Q1	401.63	78.94	194.46
2005 Q4	527.94	78.68	234.62
2005 Q3	345.94	76.28	180.73
2005 Q2	413.52	73.05	190.79
2005 Q1	319.00	87.48	177.47
2004 Q4	294.12	80.04	162.00
2004 Q3	299.12	81.11	170.40
2004 Q2	322.21	82.49	170.67
2004 Q1	267.08	79.08	150.05
2003 Q4	361.16	87.21	187.74
2003 Q3	335.11	51.74	143.42
2003 Q2	350.29	103.38	200.62
2003 Q1	319.92	81.33	172.41
2002 Q4	264.45	109.48	181.58
2002 Q3	258.18	64.46	132.74
2002 Q2	315.91	93.00	181.31
2002 Q1	316.00	96.85	187.68
2001 Q4	301.01	101.32	184.94
2001 Q3	338.15	96.41	195.49
2001 Q2	349.84	107.15	207.30
2001 Q1	256.07	93.69	166.22
2000 Q4	294.47	92.75	177.99
2000 Q3	249.22	72.63	142.38
2000 Q2	299.09	82.24	175.60
2000 Q1	172.48	75.79	124.74
1999 Q4	217.27	79.67	142.90
1999 Q3	247.07	67.99	139.18
1999 Q2	275.22	65.33	145.98
1999 Q1	296.21	40.76	131.55
1998 Q4	386.98	24.53	139.63
1998 Q3	268.46	29.73	111.45
1998 Q2	323.22	37.55	124.15
1998 Q1	255.25	35.00	113.06
1997 Q4	306.46	23.18	111.62
1997 Q3	212.04	30.80	92.44
1997 Q2	261.16	30.38	107.68
1997 Q1	200.30	31.69	90.40
1996 Q4	209.36	35.12	95.52
1996 Q3	219.05	30.81	95.62
1996 Q2	215.71	29.79	103.20
1996 Q1	143.93	21.57	68.79
1995 Q4	102.47	26.66	56.13
1995 Q3	57.50	37.47	53.78
1995 Q2	92.94	16.14	41.45
1995 Q1	137.69	25.77	63.58
1994 Q4	75.19	29.39	52.22
1994 Q3	120.67	49.37	87.83
1994 Q2	152.31	52.69	97.06
1994 Q1	87.14	45.27	67.56
1993 Q4	90.90	45.73	72.58
1993 Q3	99.72	35.92	63.80
1993 Q2	156.47	36.80	80.10
1993 Q1	49.52	39.18	55.01
1992 Q4	95.72	43.42	74.88
1992 Q3	57.46	45.84	61.15
1992 Q2	53.48	46.38	61.34
1992 Q1	64.73	42.42	60.83
1991 Q4	70.18	45.79	65.08
1991 Q3	30.38	48.68	57.94
1991 Q2	69.17	47.24	67.83
1991 Q1	42.55	40.17	52.18
1990 Q4	57.37	42.48	58.94
1990 Q3	75.51	33.19	56.81
1990 Q2	52.79	35.38	57.93
1990 Q1	46.77	41.76	56.69

Where Australian copper goes

thousand tonnes, 12 months

Named destinations over the twelve months to 2026 Q1. The largest buyer of Australian copper concentrate was China at 740 thousand tonnes, 61 per cent of the named total. Named countries account for 1,213 thousand tonnes against a reported export total of 1,255 thousand tonnes; the difference is country detail the department withholds as confidential. Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026 edition.

Copper ores and concentrates, exports by destination, twelve months to 2026 Q1
Destination	Thousand tonnes	Share of named
China	740.2	61.0%
Japan	239.2	19.7%
India	163.5	13.5%
South Korea	70.4	5.8%

Value

Export earnings, and the world price beside the price Australian producers actually got.

Copper earned Australia A$13.7 billion in a year

Copper exports were worth A$13.7 billion in the twelve months to 2026 Q1, A$7.4 billion of it from ores and concentrates and A$6.2 billion from refined metal. In 2026 Q1 the London Metal Exchange cash price averaged US$12,852 a tonne while Australian exports realised A$18,488 a tonne. The two are not directly comparable, and the gap between them is mostly the exchange rate.

Copper export earnings and prices

A$ billion per quarter · price per tonne

Export earnings by form in A$ billion per quarter, above; benchmark and realised prices below. The London Metal Exchange cash price is quoted in US dollars and the realised Australian export price in Australian dollars, so the distance between the lines reflects the exchange rate as much as anything about the market. Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026 edition.

Copper export earnings and prices by quarter
Quarter	Ores & conc. A$b	Refined A$b	Total A$b	LME cash US$/t	Realised A$/t
2026 Q1	1.854	1.316	3.170	12,852	18,488
2025 Q4	1.899	1.558	3.457	11,100	16,904
2025 Q3	1.737	1.644	3.381	9,792	14,968
2025 Q2	1.931	1.724	3.654	9,519	14,850
2025 Q1	1.505	1.149	2.654	9,346	14,888
2024 Q4	1.629	1.208	2.837	9,178	14,073
2024 Q3	1.898	1.468	3.365	9,204	13,740
2024 Q2	1.672	1.465	3.137	9,751	14,794
2024 Q1	1.313	1.216	2.529	8,444	12,836
2023 Q4	1.720	1.264	2.984	8,169	12,542
2023 Q3	1.565	1.187	2.752	8,356	12,767
2023 Q2	1.978	1.358	3.337	8,478	12,688
2023 Q1	1.414	1.205	2.618	8,930	13,063
2022 Q4	1.957	1.424	3.382	8,006	12,174
2022 Q3	1.895	1.030	2.925	7,742	11,332
2022 Q2	2.135	1.257	3.393	9,526	13,337
2022 Q1	1.604	1.099	2.702	9,985	13,781
2021 Q4	2.157	0.925	3.081	9,698	13,309
2021 Q3	1.863	1.089	2.951	9,372	12,756
2021 Q2	2.053	1.247	3.300	9,711	12,612
2021 Q1	1.645	1.051	2.696	8,479	10,973
2020 Q4	1.990	0.864	2.854	7,174	9,803
2020 Q3	1.640	0.949	2.590	6,521	9,118
2020 Q2	1.962	0.817	2.779	5,341	8,120
2020 Q1	1.555	0.791	2.347	5,638	8,566
2019 Q4	1.754	1.005	2.759	5,888	8,612
2019 Q3	1.583	0.741	2.324	5,798	8,459
2019 Q2	1.475	1.044	2.519	6,114	8,732
2019 Q1	1.453	1.050	2.503	6,220	8,731
2018 Q4	1.738	0.816	2.554	6,168	8,603
2018 Q3	1.310	0.884	2.194	6,103	8,343
2018 Q2	1.674	0.673	2.348	6,872	9,083
2018 Q1	1.397	0.782	2.179	6,959	8,854
2017 Q4	1.523	0.658	2.181	6,808	8,856
2017 Q3	1.103	0.641	1.744	6,347	8,037
2017 Q2	1.182	0.893	2.075	5,665	7,542
2017 Q1	0.982	0.650	1.631	5,837	7,695
2016 Q4	1.316	0.793	2.108	5,281	7,048
2016 Q3	1.098	0.656	1.754	4,774	6,295
2016 Q2	1.193	0.791	1.984	4,730	6,342
2016 Q1	1.107	0.757	1.864	4,667	6,472
2015 Q4	1.147	0.915	2.062	4,888	6,787
2015 Q3	1.217	0.983	2.200	5,251	7,234
2015 Q2	1.314	0.638	1.951	6,054	7,778
2015 Q1	1.135	0.733	1.868	5,815	7,391
2014 Q4	1.539	1.003	2.542	6,621	7,727
2014 Q3	1.255	0.852	2.107	6,994	7,558
2014 Q2	1.273	0.885	2.158	6,787	7,275
2014 Q1	1.293	0.948	2.241	7,038	7,852
2013 Q4	1.342	0.887	2.229	7,153	7,700
2013 Q3	1.311	0.767	2.078	7,079	7,727
2013 Q2	1.373	0.726	2.099	7,146	7,203
2013 Q1	1.165	0.692	1.857	7,928	7,631
2012 Q4	1.560	0.634	2.194	7,909	7,614
2012 Q3	1.239	0.655	1.894	7,717	7,429
2012 Q2	1.376	0.810	2.186	7,867	7,792
2012 Q1	1.080	0.772	1.851	8,300	7,868
2011 Q4	1.450	0.801	2.251	7,485	7,403
2011 Q3	1.480	0.733	2.212	9,120	8,687
2011 Q2	1.330	0.802	2.132	9,152	8,650
2011 Q1	1.176	0.865	2.041	9,651	9,620
2010 Q4	1.429	0.841	2.270	8,637	8,770
2010 Q3	1.195	0.783	1.978	7,243	8,019
2010 Q2	1.317	0.578	1.895	7,025	7,937
2010 Q1	1.092	0.338	1.430	7,232	7,991
2009 Q4	1.150	0.508	1.658	6,648	7,294
2009 Q3	0.967	0.557	1.524	5,859	7,035
2009 Q2	1.013	0.544	1.557	4,662	6,127
2009 Q1	0.660	0.430	1.091	3,428	5,150
2008 Q4	1.018	0.577	1.595	3,905	5,793
2008 Q3	0.926	0.694	1.620	7,680	8,627
2008 Q2	0.946	0.813	1.759	8,443	8,958
2008 Q1	1.129	0.631	1.760	7,796	8,616
2007 Q4	0.940	0.614	1.554	7,188	8,075
2007 Q3	1.136	0.521	1.657	7,713	9,116
2007 Q2	0.921	0.728	1.648	7,642	9,211
2007 Q1	0.846	0.698	1.544	5,933	7,560
2006 Q4	1.056	0.647	1.703	7,074	9,213
2006 Q3	1.091	0.539	1.631	7,670	10,146
2006 Q2	1.048	0.772	1.820	7,210	9,667
2006 Q1	0.900	0.546	1.446	4,939	6,715
2005 Q4	0.969	0.463	1.432	4,302	5,796
2005 Q3	0.575	0.380	0.955	3,757	4,953
2005 Q2	0.593	0.325	0.917	3,391	4,420
2005 Q1	0.419	0.365	0.784	3,268	4,206
2004 Q4	0.387	0.324	0.710	3,093	4,096
2004 Q3	0.351	0.319	0.670	2,850	4,024
2004 Q2	0.384	0.313	0.697	2,790	3,912
2004 Q1	0.266	0.246	0.512	2,731	3,577
2003 Q4	0.305	0.232	0.537	2,059	2,886
2003 Q3	0.288	0.133	0.421	1,753	2,665
2003 Q2	0.300	0.260	0.560	1,641	2,563
2003 Q1	0.286	0.221	0.506	1,663	2,808
2002 Q4	0.235	0.293	0.528	1,554	2,786
2002 Q3	0.228	0.183	0.411	1,516	2,766
2002 Q2	0.266	0.265	0.532	1,611	2,927
2002 Q1	0.247	0.282	0.529	1,557	3,004
2001 Q4	0.258	0.287	0.545	1,426	2,786
2001 Q3	0.257	0.296	0.553	1,471	2,856
2001 Q2	0.298	0.362	0.659	1,652	3,212
2001 Q1	0.238	0.323	0.561	1,764	3,311
2000 Q4	0.272	0.333	0.606	1,848	3,474
2000 Q3	0.229	0.231	0.459	1,872	3,252
2000 Q2	0.262	0.245	0.507	1,739	2,948
2000 Q1	0.141	0.218	0.358	1,795	2,842
1999 Q4	0.198	0.212	0.411	1,738	2,698
1999 Q3	0.176	0.165	0.340	1,679	2,580
1999 Q2	0.195	0.148	0.342	1,467	2,249
1999 Q1	0.234	0.102	0.336	1,407	2,225
1998 Q4	0.322	0.065	0.387	1,545	2,480
1998 Q3	0.218	0.082	0.300	1,640	2,744
1998 Q2	0.235	0.103	0.338	1,731	2,760
1998 Q1	0.179	0.094	0.272	1,700	2,562
1997 Q4	0.233	0.071	0.304	1,911	2,764
1997 Q3	0.175	0.104	0.280	2,270	3,094
1997 Q2	0.196	0.091	0.288	2,506	3,265
1997 Q1	0.139	0.087	0.227	2,421	3,122
1996 Q4	0.179	0.093	0.272	2,153	2,719
1996 Q3	0.141	0.080	0.221	1,979	2,520
1996 Q2	0.197	0.101	0.298	2,471	3,135
1996 Q1	0.122	0.081	0.203	2,572	3,418
1995 Q4	0.118	0.104	0.223	2,906	3,901
1995 Q3	0.049	0.156	0.204	3,009	4,084
1995 Q2	0.108	0.064	0.172	2,890	3,992
1995 Q1	0.105	0.099	0.204	2,937	3,944
1994 Q4	0.078	0.099	0.178	2,778	3,696
1994 Q3	0.085	0.158	0.243	2,457	3,340
1994 Q2	0.080	0.145	0.225	2,132	2,955
1994 Q1	0.057	0.113	0.170	1,862	2,644
1993 Q4	0.062	0.121	0.183	1,667	2,515
1993 Q3	0.060	0.100	0.161	1,912	2,857
1993 Q2	0.114	0.104	0.218	1,866	2,688
1993 Q1	0.032	0.128	0.161	2,209	3,208
1992 Q4	0.076	0.139	0.215	2,209	3,162
1992 Q3	0.044	0.154	0.198	2,479	3,390
1992 Q2	0.054	0.136	0.189	2,241	2,954
1992 Q1	0.041	0.126	0.167	2,194	2,912
1991 Q4	0.047	0.139	0.186	2,321	2,964
1991 Q3	0.024	0.142	0.166	2,257	2,884
1991 Q2	0.055	0.153	0.208	2,334	3,023
1991 Q1	0.033	0.130	0.163	2,443	3,135
1990 Q4	0.048	0.146	0.194	2,605	3,328
1990 Q3	0.070	0.115	0.185	2,915	3,604
1990 Q2	0.054	0.125	0.179	2,672	3,474
1990 Q1	0.070	0.137	0.207	2,449	3,189

Exploration

What the industry spends looking for the next deposit, which moves years before production does.

Copper exploration is running at A$455 million a year

Explorers spent A$455 million looking for copper in the twelve months to 2026 Q1, 12 per cent of all Australian spending on metals and minerals exploration. The quarterly series begins in 1999 Q3, later than the production figures. Spending peaked at A$661 million over the twelve months to 2023 Q4. Exploration turns into production only after years of drilling, approvals and construction, which is why this series moves well ahead of the output above.

Copper exploration expenditure

A$ million per quarter

Private mineral exploration expenditure on copper, A$ million per quarter, from 1999 Q3. The share view expresses copper as a percentage of all metals and other minerals exploration. Source: Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026 edition.

Copper exploration expenditure by quarter
Quarter	Copper A$m	All metals A$m	Copper share
2026 Q1	98.5	899.4	11.0%
2025 Q4	117.1	981.6	11.9%
2025 Q3	116.6	982.9	11.9%
2025 Q2	122.6	937.7	13.1%
2025 Q1	113.4	747.8	15.2%
2024 Q4	150.5	890.4	16.9%
2024 Q3	146.3	910.4	16.1%
2024 Q2	150.7	928.3	16.2%
2024 Q1	128.8	820.1	15.7%
2023 Q4	168.0	1,008.8	16.7%
2023 Q3	181.1	1,055.8	17.2%
2023 Q2	176.2	994.4	17.7%
2023 Q1	135.6	824.3	16.5%
2022 Q4	148.4	964.8	15.4%
2022 Q3	165.9	n/a	n/a
2022 Q2	134.6	989.2	13.6%
2022 Q1	122.3	808.3	15.1%
2021 Q4	172.5	894.5	19.3%
2021 Q3	155.3	927.7	16.7%
2021 Q2	119.6	853.2	14.0%
2021 Q1	102.8	682.2	15.1%
2020 Q4	78.7	711.6	11.1%
2020 Q3	75.8	670.0	11.3%
2020 Q2	83.3	594.5	14.0%
2020 Q1	95.9	534.4	17.9%
2019 Q4	123.8	673.2	18.4%
2019 Q3	117.1	659.1	17.8%
2019 Q2	109.0	609.2	17.9%
2019 Q1	65.0	467.4	13.9%
2018 Q4	81.6	539.1	15.1%
2018 Q3	73.2	535.6	13.7%
2018 Q2	59.8	522.6	11.4%
2018 Q1	46.2	400.4	11.5%
2017 Q4	42.4	454.2	9.3%
2017 Q3	44.5	433.5	10.3%
2017 Q2	42.2	413.7	10.2%
2017 Q1	26.7	308.6	8.7%
2016 Q4	32.1	363.5	8.8%
2016 Q3	34.8	337.4	10.3%
2016 Q2	32.2	319.3	10.1%
2016 Q1	36.6	259.1	14.1%
2015 Q4	31.4	308.7	10.2%
2015 Q3	30.2	322.3	9.4%
2015 Q2	28.1	283.6	9.9%
2015 Q1	31.3	266.8	11.7%
2014 Q4	40.8	368.4	11.1%
2014 Q3	44.2	367.5	12.0%
2014 Q2	42.5	423.7	10.0%
2014 Q1	36.2	299.4	12.1%
2013 Q4	43.5	430.0	10.1%
2013 Q3	54.6	512.7	10.6%
2013 Q2	63.7	532.1	12.0%
2013 Q1	61.0	555.3	11.0%
2012 Q4	92.1	653.9	14.1%
2012 Q3	102.5	700.6	14.6%
2012 Q2	120.4	824.7	14.6%
2012 Q1	98.7	669.3	14.7%
2011 Q4	114.6	769.1	14.9%
2011 Q3	108.9	702.0	15.5%
2011 Q2	101.5	658.1	15.4%
2011 Q1	70.9	497.1	14.3%
2010 Q4	81.8	536.8	15.2%
2010 Q3	68.9	525.7	13.1%
2010 Q2	63.7	500.7	12.7%
2010 Q1	47.0	375.2	12.5%
2009 Q4	54.0	445.0	12.1%
2009 Q3	37.0	421.4	8.8%
2009 Q2	18.0	357.9	5.0%
2009 Q1	25.8	306.6	8.4%
2008 Q4	55.7	513.7	10.8%
2008 Q3	79.2	562.5	14.1%
2008 Q2	93.3	594.6	15.7%
2008 Q1	64.8	440.7	14.7%
2007 Q4	70.2	496.5	14.1%
2007 Q3	65.2	463.3	14.1%
2007 Q2	77.1	421.1	18.3%
2007 Q1	51.2	306.2	16.7%
2006 Q4	53.5	360.6	14.8%
2006 Q3	52.7	319.4	16.5%
2006 Q2	46.7	292.4	16.0%
2006 Q1	24.6	212.1	11.6%
2005 Q4	36.7	265.8	13.8%
2005 Q3	31.5	247.9	12.7%
2005 Q2	22.4	246.3	9.1%
2005 Q1	15.2	192.8	7.9%
2004 Q4	18.3	224.2	8.2%
2004 Q3	15.5	217.6	7.1%
2004 Q2	13.8	213.6	6.5%
2004 Q1	8.2	152.3	5.4%
2003 Q4	8.9	172.4	5.2%
2003 Q3	7.0	156.3	4.5%
2003 Q2	10.0	175.3	5.7%
2003 Q1	8.6	138.7	6.2%
2002 Q4	10.1	169.7	6.0%
2002 Q3	11.1	164.4	6.8%
2002 Q2	13.1	151.7	8.6%
2002 Q1	8.1	123.1	6.6%
2001 Q4	10.3	154.2	6.7%
2001 Q3	10.0	152.5	6.6%
2001 Q2	12.3	167.7	7.3%
2001 Q1	5.8	134.8	4.3%
2000 Q4	7.7	175.0	4.4%
2000 Q3	6.9	160.6	4.3%
2000 Q2	7.0	174.0	4.0%
2000 Q1	6.5	128.8	5.0%
1999 Q4	8.3	164.0	5.1%
1999 Q3	6.5	165.8	3.9%

Questions

The figures above, stated plainly.

Common questions

How much copper does Australia produce?

Australia mined 712 thousand tonnes of contained copper in the twelve months to 2026 Q1, according to the federal Resources and Energy Quarterly.

Which Australian state produces the most copper?

South Australia, with 345 thousand tonnes of contained copper in the twelve months to 2026 Q1, or 48 per cent of national output. New South Wales is second on 193 thousand tonnes and Queensland third on 108 thousand tonnes.

Why is there no Northern Territory figure?

The Resources and Energy Quarterly publishes rows for five states and a national total, and the Northern Territory is not one of them. Territory output is inside the Australian total but not shown separately. Since 2010 the five published states have summed to the national total in every quarter, so nothing measurable is being lost today.

How much copper does Australia refine?

Australia refined 428 thousand tonnes of copper in the twelve months to 2026 Q1, 60 per cent of the contained copper it mined. Most of the rest is exported as concentrate for smelting overseas.

What are Australia's copper exports worth?

A$13.7 billion in the twelve months to 2026 Q1: A$7.4 billion from ores and concentrates and A$6.2 billion from refined copper.

Where does Australian copper go?

Over the twelve months to 2026 Q1 the largest named buyer of Australian copper concentrate was China at 740 thousand tonnes. The department withholds some country detail as confidential, so the named destinations do not sum to the export total.

How much is spent exploring for copper in Australia?

A$455 million in the twelve months to 2026 Q1, which is 12 per cent of all Australian metals and minerals exploration spending.

Can I download this data?

Yes. The full quarterly series is published as CSV and JSON, and the original workbook is linked in the sources below. Everything is CC BY 4.0.

Method

Where this comes from, and what it can't tell you

Source. Every figure is compiled from the historical data workbook of the Resources and Energy Quarterly, published by the Office of the Chief Economist at the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources, under CC BY 4.0. Nothing here is modelled or forecast: the REQ also publishes projections, and none of them appear on this page.

The Northern Territory is not shown separately. Sheet 25 of the workbook breaks out New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, and gives an Australian total. The Northern Territory has no row of its own, so its output sits inside the national figure without appearing in any state band. This mattered in the 1990s, when the gap between the national total and the five states reached 8.85 thousand tonnes in a quarter. It has not mattered for a long time: the last quarter in which the difference exceeded half a thousand tonnes was 2008 Q4, and since then the five states have accounted for the national total to within rounding, the most recent instance being 0.32 thousand tonnes in 2026 Q1. Read the state bands as the whole of Australian production, because in practice they now are.

Two ways of counting a tonne. Copper is counted two ways in these tables and mixing them will give a wrong answer. Production by state, blister, refined metal and the contained-copper export line are all measured as copper metal. The ores and concentrates export line is measured at gross shipped weight, which includes the rock the metal is still bound up in; that is why 1,255 thousand tonnes of concentrate exports carry only part of that weight as metal. Where this page adds figures together it adds only like with like.

Two different currencies. The benchmark price is the London Metal Exchange cash settlement in US dollars a tonne. The realised price is what Australian exports actually fetched, in Australian dollars a tonne. Both are reproduced as published rather than converted, because converting would require picking an exchange rate the department did not use.

State figures are estimates. The REQ marks its state rows with an estimate footnote. Where a state publishes its own figures compiled from mine returns, the two will not match, and the federal series is the one used throughout this page.

No mine-level detail. The REQ reports to state level. Unlike coal, no Australian state publishes copper production mine by mine as open data, so there is no deeper cut available for this commodity. Where that detail does exist, for Queensland coal, it is on the Queensland coal page.

Destinations are partial. The REQ names only the major buyers for each form and withholds some country detail as confidential, marking those cells rather than dropping them. Destination rows therefore do not sum to the export total, and the gap is genuine rather than an error.

Revisions. The most recent quarter is preliminary and moves as data is resubmitted. This page is rebuilt from the source workbook after each quarterly edition rather than updated by hand.