Image: Olympic Dam, BHP
South Australia is achieving remarkable success in copper exports, with refined copper and copper products hitting a new record of $3.1 billion over the past 12 months up to November 2025. According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, this is a significant increase from $2.65 billion recorded in the previous year. Copper is central to the technologies employed globally for electrifying and decarbonising economies, and has shown a substantial growth trajectory in the state’s export figures.
The value of South Australia’s copper exports, including ores and concentrates, displayed an almost 100 per cent growth from $2.15 billion in the financial year 2015-16 to $4.28 billion in 2024-25. The state is home to nearly 70 per cent of Australia’s economic copper reserves. Major mines like Olympic Dam, Carrapateena, and Prominent Hill continue to actively produce, with more sites like Hillside and Kalkaroo advancing towards development.
Further driving the industry forward, the Geological Survey for South Australia (GSSA) is intensifying its research and analysis of minerals critical to the energy transition, including copper. This strategic enhancement is key to maintaining the momentum in copper discovery and development within the state.
The State Government has initiated a competitive procurement process for the Northern Water project. This initiative is expected to significantly help the mining and processing of copper, particularly in northern South Australia.
Tom Koutsantonis, MP and Minister for Energy and Mining, shared, “We’re committed to delivering the nation’s – if not the world’s – best precompetitive data through our Geological Survey to give explorers and investors a headstart, to draw new players to compete for our resources, and to share some of the risk.
“We’re progressing procurement processes for the Northern Water project, which if delivered will give our existing and prospective copper provinces the best possible chance to tap into this generational opportunity,” he added.
Joe Szakacs, MP, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, shared, “From highly-demanded commodities to world-class produce, South Australia is setting export records across the board. More than 200,000 jobs across our state are tied to exports, and our Government recognises the opportunity this momentum provides for our industries. We’ll continue to work closely with South Australian exporters for the benefit of our state and our economy.”
As copper continues to drive substantial economic benefits for South Australia, the state’s strategic initiatives and ongoing developments are crucial in maintaining its leading position in the global copper industry. With ongoing governmental support and innovative projects like the Northern Water project, South Australia is well set to capitalise on the growing global demand for copper.
