Bauxite Mining in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: September 2023
ANZSIC B0802Revenue
$3.2bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$XXX.Xm
Employees
3,299
Businesses
10
Wages
$XXX.Xm
Bauxite Mining in Australia industry analysis
Australia is the world's largest bauxite producer, accounting for approximately 30% of global output, ahead of China, Guinea and Brazil. For over a decade up until 2019-20, bauxite production in Australia had been growing steadily, peaking at 107.2 million tonnes in the 2019-20 financial year. Expansion projects at several bauxite mines contributed to this strong growth in production, increasing mine output to meet higher demand. However, a combination of weakened global demand, falling prices and slowed expansion activity have contributed to production volumes contracting in recent years, totalling 99.8 million tonnes in 2022-23. Production volumes and prices are anticipated to improve in 2023-24 as demand from China recovers. Overall, industry-wide revenue is expected to fall at an annualised 5.9% over the five years through 2023-24 to $3.2 billion, including an estimated 7.1% jump in 2023-24. Weaker demand and lower revenue have also squeezed industry profit margins.
Trends and Insights
- Production volumes declined over the three years through the end of 2022-23 due to lower demand and exports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Constrained demand has also harmed bauxite prices, contributing to industry revenue declines.
- The Bauxite Mining industry produces only bauxite, which is classified as either high, medium or low grade. Over the past decade, expansions at Weipa and Gove have been more extensive than the low-grade bauxite projects in Western Australia.
- Almost all bauxite is mined in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. The industry's geographic spread reflects the location of readily exploitable bauxite resources.
- Bauxite producers do not compete on price in the local market due to the vertical integration of mining companies. Ownership of bauxite mines goes hand-in-hand with ownership of alumina refineries, with the same firms often being represented in both industries.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.2bn in 2023.
Trends and Insights
A global demand slump during the pandemic harmed bauxite prices export revenue
- Bauxite and aluminium use are influenced by global requirements, with the products utilised in everything from packaging to aircraft manufacturing.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Bauxite prices are set to climb as global demand rises
- Bauxite prices are poised to inch upward over the coming years as global demand ramps up.
Biggest companies in the Bauxite Mining in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
Rio Tinto | 1,646.3 | |
Alcoa of Australia | 733.0 | |
South32 | 358.5 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including High-grade bauxite, Medium-grade bauxite and Low-grade bauxite. High-grade bauxite is the largest segment of the Bauxite Mining in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Expansions at Weipa and Gove have lifted high-grade bauxite production
- The bauxite resources at Weipa, QLD, and Gove, NT, are among the world's highest-grade deposits, with average grades generally between 48% and 53% alumina.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Iron Ore Mining in Australia
- Copper Ore Mining in Australia
- Alumina Production in Australia
- Aluminium Smelting in Australia
International industries
- Molybdenum & Metal Ore Mining in the US
- Uranium & Metal Ore Mining
- Aluminum Ore Mining in China
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry firms primarily mine bauxite, the raw material from which alumina and aluminium are produced.
What's included in this industry?
High-grade bauxiteMedium-grade bauxiteLow-grade bauxiteCompanies
Rio TintoAlcoa of AustraliaSouth32Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
ALUMINABAUXITEOPEN CUT MININGIndustry Code
ANZSIC 0802 - Bauxite Mining in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Production volumes declined over the three years through the end of 2022-23 due to lower demand and exports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Constrained demand has also harmed b...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
- Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
- Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
- Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
The Bauxite Mining industry produces only bauxite, which is classified as either high, medium or low grade. Over the past decade, expansions at Weipa and Gove have been more ...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2023
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2023
- Major market segmentation in 2023
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Almost all bauxite is mined in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. The industry's geographic spread reflects the location of readily exploitable bauxite...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2023
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Bauxite producers do not compete on price in the local market due to the vertical integration of mining companies. Ownership of bauxite mines goes hand-in-hand with ownership...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
The four major players account for almost all industry output and revenue each year. The scale required to be competitive has limited the number of smaller companies establis...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
- Overview of Rio Tinto's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
- Overview of Alcoa of Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
- Overview of South32's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Rio Tinto, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Alcoa of Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for South32, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
State governments oversee nearly all aspects of regulating bauxite mining operations. State governments determine what land is open to exploration and mining, issue explorati...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
The Bauxite Mining industry has high average profit margins due to the high aluminium oxide (alumina) content of most local bauxite and efficient, large-scale mining processes...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
- Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
- Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
- Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
- Average Wage (2013-2028)
- Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
- IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
- Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
- Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2013-2028)
- IVA (2013-2028)
- Establishments (2013-2028)
- Enterprises (2013-2028)
- Employment (2013-2028)
- Exports (2013-2028)
- Imports (2013-2028)
- Wages (2013-2028)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia is $3.2bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Bauxite Mining in Australia industry in 2023?
There are 10 businesses in the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2018 and 2023.
Has the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 5.9 % between 2018 and 2023.
What is the forecast growth of the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Bauxite Mining market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Bauxite Mining market in Australia are Rio Tinto, Alcoa of Australia and South32
What does the Bauxite Mining in Australia include?
High-grade bauxite and Medium-grade bauxite are part of the Bauxite Mining industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Bauxite Mining in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is Rio Tinto.
How competitive is the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia?
The level of competition is low and steady in the Bauxite Mining industry in Australia.
