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Mineral Sand Mining in Australia Industry Data and Analysis
Over recent years, the Mineral Sand Mining industry has faced significant challenges because of the declining production of higher-value sands like leucoxene and zircon, stemming from ore depletion in older mines. Despite these setbacks, new projects like Strandline Resources' Coburn and Sheffield Resources' Thunderbird have bolstered ilmenite concentrate output, helping to offset the impact on overall mineral sand production. However, the lower titanium dioxide content in ilmenite concentrate also means it's priced lower and contributes to less revenue. Soaring mineral sand prices have helped limit revenue declines and enhanced profitability, with zircon prices rising significantly over the three years through 2022-23. While zircon prices dipped in 2023-24, they remain well above the 2019-20 price levels. The elevated mineral sand prices weren't sufficient to offset the production plunge. These forces are why industry revenue is expected to plunge at an annualised 9.1% over the five years through 2024-25, to total $2.6 billion. This trend includes an anticipated drop of 3.8% in the current year because of easing mineral sand prices.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released January 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code B0805. Industry firms primarily engage in mining titanium dioxide mineral sands, such as rutile, ilmenite and leucoxene, for titanium dioxide pigment production. Industry firms produce synthetic rutile by processing ilmenite concentrates. Related terms covered in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia include concentrate, synthetic rutile, beneficiation, titanium dioxide pigment and titanium feedstock.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia include Rutile concentrate, Ilmenite concentrate and Zircon concentrate.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia include Iluka Resources, Tronox and Sheffield Resources.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia in 2026?
The market size of the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia is $2.6bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia in 2025?
There are 122 businesses in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia?
The Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia?
The Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia is likely to be impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a moderate share of industry revenue.
Has the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 9.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia are Iluka Resources, Tronox and Sheffield Resources
What does the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia include?
Ilmenite concentrate and Leucoxene concentrate are part of the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia is Iluka Resources.
How competitive is the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia?
The level of competition is low and steady in the Mineral Sand Mining industry in Australia.
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