According to the estimate of Australian Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE), as of fiscal year 2011-2012 (ended in June 30, 2012), the country's iron ore exports are forecasted to increase by 10 percent year-on-year to 449 million mt, while metallurgical coal exports are forecasted to increase by 11 percent year-on-year to 156 million mt.
Due to the BHP Billiton's iron ore mining expansion projects in Western Australia to be operated by the end of this year, Australia's iron ore exports are estimated to increase by 5 percent year-on-year to 423 million mt in 2011. However, the influence of torrential rain earlier this year will likely to offset the growth of production capacity.
With CITIC Pacific's Sino Iron magnetite project (28 million mt of annual production capacity) and Cliffs Natural Resources Inc's Koolyanobbing iron ore deposits (2.5 million mt of annual production capacity) both in Western Australia to be put into operation as planned, Australia's iron ore exports are expected to increase by 13 percent year-on-year to 476 million mt in 2012