Australian Iron Ore Mining Industry Review Essay Example
Australian Iron Ore Mining Industry Review Essay Example

Australian Iron Ore Mining Industry Review Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1482 words)
  • Published: September 30, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Figure 1 illustrates that Australia's most valuable commodity export is iron ore, and the mining industry played a crucial role in both the country's economy and the global economy in the 1990s and early 2000s. Due to globalization, various operations occurred, and Australia's exports exceeded their previous limits. According to the Minerals Council of Australia (2008), approximately 16% of the world's iron ore was produced by Australia in 2007, ranking third after Brazil (19%) and China (32%). Despite not being the largest producer globally, Australia currently ranks as the top exporter of iron ore worldwide (Australian Minerals Industry, 2008).

The Pilbara region of northwest Australia has seen a significant increase in iron ore production, rising from 158 million tonnes in 1997 to 320 million tonnes in 2007, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The industry's expansion and diversification efforts ha

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ve been led by Rio Tinto Group and BHP Billiton. Factors contributing to this growth include technological advancements, environmental and social concerns, as well as research and development initiatives.

Globalisation is a significant influence on industries worldwide. Each of the factors discussed in the text can ultimately be traced back to this single title. ‘Figure 2’ illustrates the production levels of iron ore from 2006 to 2007 and compares its export value to other mined minerals. The impact of globalisation's driving forces directly affects the success of Australia's iron ore mining industry, both on a national and global scale. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto Group, as Transnational Corporations (TNCs), have further increased industry sales and exports while reducing production costs using economies of scale. Mining expansions and new mines opening in iron-rich areas have resulted in great benefit

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for the Australian economy and rapid overall growth in the global economy.

China is considered to be one of the most influential factors in the success of Australia's iron ore industry as it is the largest importer. If China reduces its purchases and instead relies on sources from Brazil, India, or Russia, it will disrupt the Australian economy due to unexpected sales issues. The growth of the Chinese economy and its demand for base metals, iron ore, and coal continue to be important for exploration in Australia (McKay, 2008). Additionally, technology, particularly in communications has had a strong impact on Australia's iron ore mining industry's continued success.

Thanks to the continuous evolution of communication technologies, transport, and information processing, TNCs such as BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto can successfully leverage global communication to expand their exports in the global marketplace. Technological breakthroughs have not only facilitated TNCs' operations but also strengthened the world economy by using technology to connect every country and create a "global village". The growth and global recognition of numerous industries, including mining, are significantly shaped by environmental influences. If the environment deteriorates rapidly, leading to a depletion of iron ore in Australia's crust, the iron ore mining industry would undoubtedly experience difficulties sourcing natural resources.

The iron ore mining industry in Australia can be affected by various factors, including the environment and government policies. The environment can lead to a chain reaction that jeopardizes national and global economies, as well as the relationship between Australia and China. Local and foreign governments also have a significant impact on the industry through policies related to deregulation, trade barriers, industry support, and export assistance. Deregulation has

increased competition and efficiency between multinational corporations (TNCs) and smaller participants in the industry, while negotiations continue to reduce the impact of trade barriers such as tariffs and taxes on Australia's economy through other nations.

The Australian economy gains from becoming more integrated into the global market through reduced taxes and tariffs and increased financial benefit. In addition, the government can support the mining industries by negotiating trade barriers and implementing deregulation. The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research aids this process by enhancing international competitiveness and boosting productivity and efficiency.

The Commonwealth of Australia (2008) states that the Department collaborates with stakeholders to create policies and execute programs for long-term economic benefits, ensuring Australia's future competitiveness. Regardless of the industry, businesses can receive export assistance from both state and federal governments. State governments manage various support programs such as "Trade Development Program" and "Enterprise Improvement Programs," which help businesses develop innovative strategies and expand their commercial activities overseas.

At the federal level, there are three main organizations that provide export assistance across all industries: the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Austrade, and AusIndustry. These organizations offer distinct development programs and initiatives to aid business exports beyond what state governments can provide. While foreign governments have limited involvement in Australia's iron ore mining industry, negotiations on trade barriers between Australia and other countries are critical for imports and exports. Therefore, the APEC agreement is widely accepted as it promotes trade and economic cooperation among its members.

In the iron ore mining industry, the Australian government fulfills a similar function to that of other industries. It offers unbiased aid from both state and federal levels and negotiates trade

barriers for mutual advantage. Consequently, the government plays a crucial supportive role in maintaining high standards for Australia's iron ore mining sector. Furthermore, the industry has effectively managed several changing factors to its advantage.

The mining industry has been impacted by various factors, including expansion, diversification, economic cycles, economies of scale and technology. To meet market demands and diversify their operations, TNCs like BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have expanded into new countries and markets. These companies have also leveraged economic cycles and economies of scale for their own benefit as well as the industry's. The success of the mining industry is largely due to its adoption of technology. Although there are untapped forces for change such as regulations and barriers, the industry remains resilient in the face of unexpected changes.

Various challenges are being faced by the Australian iron ore mining industry, including economic downturns, recruitment difficulties, health and safety regulations, and rapid expansion. The decline in demand for Australia's iron ore can be attributed to China's recent economic slowdown following the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This deceleration has led to a slight decrease in Australia's iron ore sales since China is not growing at the same rate as before. However, this was an anticipated issue that the sector was prepared for. Mining operations must comply with more stringent health and safety guidelines than other industries due to the nature of their work.

The iron ore mining sector faces continuous challenges regarding recruitment and adhering to health and safety regulations. These persistent issues impact all parties involved in the industry and are unlikely to be swiftly resolved. The Australian iron ore mining industry, specifically the TNCs, has encountered

rapid growth. Nevertheless, if this pattern persists, managing the industry may become increasingly challenging.

The Australian iron ore mining industry is at risk of being hindered by slowing economies, as it heavily depends on a strong market. However, individual operations managers have their own strategies to overcome challenges in the industry. Companies are also likely to anticipate and manage emerging issues. Despite these difficulties, Australia's iron ore mining sector remains the strongest in the country, supporting its integration into the global economy for years ahead. This report discusses changes and issues faced by the industry over the past decade and uses information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics website (http://www.) as a source.

On the website abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[email protected]/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/93136e734ff62aa2ca2569de00271b10!OpenDocument, I found a PDF document named "The Australian Minerals Industry and the Australian Economy Factsheet." This document featured the graph and table that I utilized in the beginning of my report.

Information from the document found at http://www.minerals.org was also utilized by me.

I made use of the MCA Minerals Industry Factsheet 250507 PDF file, which was available on an Australian Government webpage featuring information from the Australian Atlas of Minerals, Resources, Mines ; Processing Centres. This resource provided comprehensive data on global iron ore mining production and development, as well as Australia's industry ranking. Additionally, I cited this webpage within my report: http://www.

I discovered useful details regarding state and federal government export aid for my report on australianminesatlas.gov.au/aimr/commodity/iron_ore.jsp#World_Ranking. The website http://www.export61.com/government-export-programs was where I obtained this information. Both sites contain and their contents remained unchanged in this paraphrase.

The website for the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research provided information on industry support: http://www.industry.gov.au/Pages/default.

Within the , the text describes

sources accessed. One source was a webpage by the US Geological Survey containing numerical data on iron ore. Another source was a school textbook written by Stephen Chapman et al. in 2000 titled "Business Studies In Action: HSC Course – 2nd Edition" and published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Milton.

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