Supply chain footprint — snapshot year 2025
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ti titanium |
44.4% | 200,000 tonnes per year | 1st | high | USGS 2024e: 200 kt. Australia's JORC-compliant rutile reserves estimated at 11 Mt TiO2 content. |
| Fe iron |
37.2% | 930 million tonnes per year | 1st | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 2024e = 930,000 thousand metric tons. World's largest exporter, primarily Pilbara hematit… |
| Li lithium |
36.7% | 88,000 tonnes per year | 1st | high | Australia remained the largest producer, principally from hard-rock mineral operations. |
| Hf hafnium |
33.3% | 4,812 tonnes per year | 1st | low | Derived from Australia's 2024e zirconium mineral concentrate output of 500,000 t gross weight. Hafnium is not reported s… byproduct of Zr |
| Zr zirconium |
33.3% | 500,000 tonnes per year | 1st | high | Australia 2024e: 500,000 tonnes gross weight (500 kt). Same as 2023. Australia is the world's largest producer of zircon… |
| Al aluminum |
22.2% | 100 million tonnes per year | 2nd | high | Australia. USGS 2024e: 100,000 thousand metric dry tons. |
| Mn manganese |
14.0% | 2,800,000 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 2,800 thousand metric tons 2024e. One mine in northern Australia suspended operations due to a … |
| Pb lead |
10.0% | 430,000 tonnes per year | 2nd | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 430 kt lead content 2024e (unchanged from 2023). Major polymetallic Pb-Zn-Ag operations (Broken… |
| Zn zinc |
9.2% | 1,100,000 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | Australia 2024e: 1,100,000 tonnes. Up slightly from 1,090,000 in 2023. USGS footnote: JORC-compliant or equivalent reser… |
| Au gold |
8.8% | 290 tonnes per year | 3rd | high | Australia 2024e: 290 metric tons. JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 4,600 tons; USGS-format reserves reported a… |
| U uranium |
8.6% | 4,658 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2023: 4,658 tU (NEA/IAEA estimate). Olympic Dam (BHP, underground iron-oxide copper-gold-uranium deposit, Sout… |
| C carbon |
5.0% | 463 million tonnes per year | 13th | high | |
| Na sodium |
4.6% | 13.0 million tonnes per year | 5th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 2024e = 13,000 thousand metric tons. Salt exports from Australia have increased in recent… |
| Ti titanium |
4.5% | 400,000 tonnes per year | 8th | high | USGS 2024e: 400 kt. JORC-compliant ilmenite reserves estimated 43 Mt and rutile 11 Mt TiO2 content. |
| Ag silver |
4.0% | 1,000 tonnes per year | 9th | high | byproduct of Au, Cu, Pb, Zn |
| Cu copper |
3.5% | 0.8 million tonnes per year | 8th | high | |
| Ho holmium |
3.3% | 19.0 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Sn tin |
3.3% | 9,900 tonnes per year | 8th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 9,900 metric tons 2024e, essentially unchanged from 9,850 in 2023. Australia holds JORC-c… |
| Lu lutetium |
3.3% | 6.0 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Ce cerium |
3.3% | 13,000 tonnes per year | 4th | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 13,000 t REO (2024e), 3.3% of world total. Lynas Rare Earths, Mount Weld deposit, Western Austr… |
| Tm thulium |
3.3% | — | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO (USGS footnote 12), 3.3% of world total. Derived Tm2O3 share: ~9 t. Lynas Rare E… |
| Tb terbium |
3.3% | 13.0 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Eu europium |
3.3% | — | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Sm samarium |
3.3% | 360 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Dy dysprosium |
3.3% | 257 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Yb ytterbium |
3.3% | 65.0 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Er erbium |
3.3% | 65.0 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| Pr praseodymium |
3.3% | 585 tonnes per year | 4th | high | Australia 2024e REE total: 13,000 t REO, down from 16,000 t in 2023. Lynas Rare Earths Mt. Weld carbonatite mine (Wester… |
| La lanthanum |
3.3% | — | 4th | high | Australia 2024e: 13,000 t REO (footnote 12: estimated from Chinese import data), 3.3% of world total. Derived La2O3 shar… |
| Gd gadolinium |
3.3% | — | 4th | high | Australia 2024e: 13,000 t REO (USGS footnote 12), 3.3% of world total. Derived Gd2O3 share ~130 t. Lynas Rare Earths min… |
| Ni nickel |
3.0% | 110,000 tonnes per year | 5th | high | Australia — USGS 2024 estimate. Down ~26% from 149,000 in 2023; multiple companies reduced or halted production owing to… |
| Nd neodymium |
3.0% | — | 4th | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 13,000 t / 390,000 t world = 3.3%. Lynas Mt Weld, WA. |
| Ta tantalum |
2.5% | 52.0 tonnes per year | 7th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia mine production 52 t Ta in 2024e; JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 28,000 t wit… |
| Sb antimony |
2.0% | 2,000 tonnes per year | 6th | high | Australia 2024 mine production: 2,000 metric tons. |
| W tungsten |
1.2% | 1,000 tonnes per year | 7th | high | USGS 2024e mine production table: Australia 1,000 t W content, up from 430 t in 2023. USGS attributes part of the non-Ch… |
| S sulfur |
1.1% | 0.9 million tonnes per year | 16th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 2024e = 900 thousand metric tons. |
| Co cobalt |
1.0% | 3,600 tonnes per year | 5th | high | byproduct of Cu, Ni |
| P phosphorus |
1.0% | 2.5 million tonnes per year | 12th | high | Australia 2024 estimate: 2,500 kt (unchanged from 2023). |
| Si silicon |
0.9% | 40,000 tonnes per year | 16th | high | USGS 2024e: 40 kt. |
| Ca calcium |
0.5% | 2.0 million tonnes per year | 13th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 2024e = 2,000 thousand metric tons. |
| Mo molybdenum |
0.4% | 1,000 tonnes per year | 13th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 1,000 metric tons 2024e, up from 660 in 2023. Total reported reserves = 690 kt (footnote … |
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al aluminum |
12.7% | 18.0 million tonnes per year | 3rd | high | Australia. USGS 2024e: 18,000 kt. A 2.2 Mt/yr alumina refinery in Western Australia was idled in 2024 due to market cond… |
| Cd cadmium |
3.8% | 900 tonnes per year | 7th | high | Australia 2024e: 900 metric tons. byproduct of Zn |
| Ti titanium |
2.6% | 260,000 tonnes per year | 12th | high | |
| Al aluminum |
2.1% | 1.5 million tonnes per year | 11th | high | Australia. USGS 2024e: 1,500 kt; yearend capacity 1,730 kt. |
| Cu copper |
1.7% | 0.5 million tonnes per year | 11th | high |
| Element | Share % | Quantity | Global rank | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zr zirconium |
75.3% | 55,000,000 tonnes | 1st | high | Australia: 55,000,000 tonnes ZrO2 content. Revised 2024. JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 20 million tons ZrO2… |
| Ti titanium |
36.9% | 215,000,000 tonnes | 1st | high | Australia combined: ilmenite 180,000 kt + rutile 35,000 kt = 215,000 kt TiO2 content. JORC-compliant reserves: 43 Mt ilm… |
| Pb lead |
36.5% | 35,000,000 tonnes | 1st | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 35,000 kt lead content — world's largest national lead reserves. JORC-compliant subset = 10 mil… |
| Mn manganese |
29.4% | 500,000,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 500,000 thousand metric tons. JORC-compliant reserves = 110 million tons (footnote 11). |
| Fe iron |
29.0% | 58,000,000,000,000 tonnes | 1st | high | USGS MCS 2025: Australia 58,000 million metric tons crude ore (= 58 Gt). JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves = 23 bill… |
| U uranium |
28.2% | 1,671,200 tonnes | 1st | high | Australia 1,671,200 tU at <USD 130/kgU; 1,935,200 tU at <USD 260/kgU. Holds the world's largest uranium resources. Olymp… |
| Ta tantalum |
28.2% | 110,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia reported tantalum reserves of 110,000 t; footnote 10 states JORC-compliant or equivalent … |
| Zn zinc |
27.8% | 64,000,000 tonnes | 1st | high | Australia: 64,000,000 tonnes. USGS footnote: JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 21 million tons (highlighting th… |
| Au gold |
18.8% | 12,000 tonnes | 1st | high | Australia: 12,000 t USGS-format reserves. JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 4,600 t per USGS footnote 11. |
| Ni nickel |
18.0% | 24,000,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | Australia. USGS footnote: JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 8.6 million tons. |
| Co cobalt |
16.0% | 1,700,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | USGS footnote 10: Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant or equivalent reserves were 610,000 tons. byproduct of Cu, Ni |
| Sn tin |
14.8% | 620,000 tonnes | 3rd | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 620,000 metric tons total reported reserves; JORC-compliant subset = 320,000 metric tons … |
| Ag silver |
14.7% | 94,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 27,000 metric tons per USGS footnote 10. byproduct of Au, Cu, Pb, Zn |
| W tungsten |
12.4% | 570,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | Interpreted from the USGS reserve table plus footnote 11 as 570,000 t W content; JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves w… |
| Al aluminum |
12.1% | 3,500,000,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | Australia. USGS: 3,500,000 thousand metric tons. JORC-compliant reserves: 1.6 billion tons. |
| Cu copper |
10.2% | 100,000,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 27 million tons per USGS footnote 7. |
| Sc scandium |
10.0% | 10,000 tonnes | 2nd | high | Australia holds Sc reserves associated primarily with the Sunrise (formerly Clean TeQ) laterite nickel-cobalt project in… byproduct of Ni, Ti |
| Er erbium |
6.3% | 28,500 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Er₂O₃: ~… |
| Sm samarium |
6.3% | 159,600 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t total (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Sm… |
| Dy dysprosium |
6.3% | 114,000 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t total (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Dy… |
| La lanthanum |
6.3% | — | 4th | high | Australia: 5,700,000 t REO per USGS MCS 2025 (JORC-compliant: 3.3 Mt, footnote 13), 6.3% of the >90 Mt floor. Derived La… |
| Pr praseodymium |
6.3% | 256,500 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t total (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Pr… |
| Gd gadolinium |
6.3% | — | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t total (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Derived Gd2O… |
| Ho holmium |
6.3% | 8,550 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t total (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Ho… |
| Y yttrium |
6.3% | 256,500 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t (JORC-compliant: 3,300,000 t per Rare Earths footnote 13). Derived Y₂O₃ floor: ~256,… |
| Yb ytterbium |
6.3% | 28,500 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Yb₂O₃: ~… |
| Eu europium |
6.3% | 5,700 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t (JORC-compliant: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Eu₂O₃: ~5,700 t. |
| Tb terbium |
6.3% | 5,700 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Tb₄O₇: ~… |
| Lu lutetium |
6.3% | 2,850 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Estimated Lu₂O₃: ~… |
| Tm thulium |
6.3% | 3,990 tonnes | 4th | high | Australia REO reserves: 5,700,000 t total (JORC-compliant or equivalent: 3,300,000 t per USGS footnote 13). Derived Tm2O… |
| Ce cerium |
6.3% | 5,700,000 tonnes | 4th | high | USGS MCS 2025 footnote 13: JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 3,300,000 t. |
| Sb antimony |
6.2% | 140,000 tonnes | 5th | high | Australia reserves: 140,000 metric tons. USGS footnote 9 states JORC-compliant or equivalent reserves were 20,000 tons. |
| Mo molybdenum |
4.6% | 690,000 tonnes | 6th | high | USGS MCS 2025 table: Australia 690 thousand metric tons total; JORC-compliant subset = 250,000 tons (footnote 6). |
| P phosphorus |
1.5% | 1,100,000,000 tonnes | 9th | high |