Australia is staking its claim as the world’s go-to supplier of critical minerals, with the latest Geoscience Australia stocktake revealing a surge in exploration, production and economic potential.
The 2025 edition of Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources (AIMR) shows 11 critical minerals recorded significant increases in economic demonstrated resources (EDR), including fluorine, graphite, high purity alumina, rare earth elements and antimony.
It found Australia remained number one globally for resources of gold, iron ore, lead, rutile, uranium, vanadium, zinc, zircon and added ilmenite.
Lithium production rose 14 per cent in 2024, platinum group elements increased 12 per cent and rare earth elements climbed seven per cent, making Australia the third largest producer of rare earth elements in 2024. Exploration investment remained robust at $668 million, while mineral resource exports were valued at $308 billion, or 11 per cent of Australia’s GDP.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the findings reinforce Australia’s global standing.
“Australia’s diverse geology and abundant mineral resources continue to underpin our economic and national security while supporting secure global supply chains with our strategic partners,” King said.
“Critical minerals and rare earth elements are vital to high technology manufacturing, defence applications, and clean energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles.
“The latest edition of Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources shows we are well placed to support the transition to net zero and to help build more secure global supply chains to support manufacturing and national security for Australia and our trading partners.”
The report was launched at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto by Western Australia’s Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael.
“Western Australia is a trusted, ethical and reliable supplier of resources to the world and home to valuable deposits of critical minerals, which are essential to the global energy transition, defence and advanced manufacturing,” Michael said.
