From the coal that powers nations to the avocados on our toast, Queensland's industrial might is a staggering tapestry where mining, agriculture, and construction combine to form a $418 billion economic powerhouse.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022-23, Queensland produced 252.1 million tonnes of black coal, accounting for 49.8% of Australia's total black coal production
- Queensland's metallurgical coal exports in 2022-23 totalled 113.4 million tonnes, valued at $42.3 billion, representing 78% of Australia's met coal exports
- The value of Queensland's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in 2022-23 was $28.6 billion, with three major LNG projects contributing 70% of Australia's LNG exports
- In 2022-23, Queensland's beef cattle slaughterings totalled 3.9 million head, representing 55% of Australia's total
- Queensland produced 1.8 million tonnes of raw sugar in 2022-23, 95% exported, valued at $3.5 billion
- Horticultural production value in Queensland reached $7.2 billion in 2022-23, with bananas at $700 million
- In 2022-23, Queensland's manufacturing turnover was $112 billion, employing 170,000 people
- Food and beverage manufacturing in Queensland generated $28.5 billion in 2022-23, 25% of national total
- Chemical manufacturing value added $12.3 billion, focused on petrochemicals
- In 2022-23, Queensland construction industry value was $85.4 billion, with 250,000 employed
- Residential building approvals: 45,200 dwellings approved, value $18.2 billion
- Non-residential construction: $32.5 billion expenditure on commercial and industrial
- In 2022-23, Queensland tourism generated $26.9 billion, supporting 270,000 jobs
- International visitor expenditure: $7.4 billion, with 2.1 million arrivals pre-COVID recovery
- Domestic tourism spend: $19.5 billion from 50 million nights stayed
Queensland's diverse industries drove significant economic output through mining and agriculture last year.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
1In 2022-23, Queensland's beef cattle slaughterings totalled 3.9 million head, representing 55% of Australia's total
Verified2Queensland produced 1.8 million tonnes of raw sugar in 2022-23, 95% exported, valued at $3.5 billion
Verified3Horticultural production value in Queensland reached $7.2 billion in 2022-23, with bananas at $700 million
Verified4Queensland's dairy production was 1.1 billion litres of milk in 2022-23
Directional5Pork production in Queensland totalled 450,000 tonnes in 2023
Single source6Queensland's pineapple production: 200,000 tonnes annually, 90% from Sunshine Coast
Verified7Avocado production in Queensland: 45,000 tonnes in 2022-23, valued at $250 million
Verified8Mango production: 55,000 tonnes from Queensland in 2023
Verified9Strawberry output: 120,000 tonnes, primarily South East Queensland
Directional10Queensland's grain production (sorghum, wheat, barley): 4.2 million tonnes in 2022-23
Single source11Cotton production: 800,000 bales in Queensland 2022-23
Verified12Peanut production: 65,000 tonnes, 100% of Australia's supply
Verified13Macadamia nuts: Queensland produced 45,000 tonnes in 2023, 70% of world supply
Verified14Queensland fisheries catch: 25,000 tonnes of wild caught seafood in 2022, valued at $300 million
Directional15Aquaculture production: 15,000 tonnes barramundi and prawns in 2023
Single source16Forestry plantations in Queensland cover 1.1 million hectares, producing 4 million tonnes timber annually
Verified17Native timber harvest: 1.2 million cubic metres in 2022-23
Verified18Agricultural land use: 150 million hectares, 70% grazing
Verified19Queensland farms: 35,000 businesses employing 170,000 people in 2023
Directional20Value of Queensland agriculture exports: $20.5 billion in 2022-23
Single source21Irrigated agriculture: 300,000 hectares using 2,500 gigalitres water annually
Verified22Organic production: 15% of Australia's certified organic farms in Queensland
Verified23Sheep and lamb production: 2.5 million head shorn, 1 million slaughtered in 2022-23
Verified24Honey production: 25,000 tonnes from Queensland apiaries
Directional25Egg production: 1.2 billion dozen eggs in 2023
Single source26Goatsmeat production: 10,000 tonnes exported
Verified27Cut flowers value: $150 million from Queensland growers
Verified28Nursery products: $1.2 billion sales in 2022-23
Verified29Wine grape crush: 25,000 tonnes in South Burnett region 2023
DirectionalAgriculture, Forestry and Fishing Interpretation
Queensland is the nation's pantry and then some, single-hoofedly slaughtering over half our beef, satisfying the world's sweet tooth with its exported sugar, growing everything from peanuts to macadamias that dominate the market, and proving—between its vast herds, sprawling crops, booming aquaculture, and even its cut flowers—that it wields more agricultural clout than a combine harvester at a garden party.
Construction and Infrastructure
1In 2022-23, Queensland construction industry value was $85.4 billion, with 250,000 employed
Verified2Residential building approvals: 45,200 dwellings approved, value $18.2 billion
Verified3Non-residential construction: $32.5 billion expenditure on commercial and industrial
Verified4Road and bridge construction contracts: $12.6 billion awarded in 2023
Directional5Rail infrastructure projects: $15 billion under Bruce Rockhampton line upgrade
Single source6Port expansion works: $5.4 billion at Abbot Point and Gladstone
Verified7Renewable energy construction: 2.5 GW solar farms built in 2023
Verified8Hospital and health facility builds: $8.9 billion pipeline
Verified9School construction: 150 new classrooms annually, $1.2 billion
Directional10Water infrastructure: $3.2 billion dams and pipelines
Single source11Flood recovery construction: $2.8 billion post-2022 floods
Verified12Airport expansions: Brisbane Airport $5 billion program
Verified13Housing affordability projects: 30,000 social homes target by 2032
Verified14Data centre construction: 500 MW capacity under build in 2023
Directional15Mining camp accommodations: 50,000 beds constructed since 2020
Single source16Prefabricated building modules: 20% of new homes using modular construction
Verified17Green building certifications: 15% of projects LEED certified in 2023
Verified18Apprentices in construction: 25,000 in training, 40% completion rate
Verified19Engineering services firms: 1,200 firms with $10 billion turnover
Directional20Tunnelling projects: 10 km Cross River Rail tunnels completed 2023
Single source21Heritage restoration works: $450 million on 200 sites
Verified22Defence infrastructure: $20 billion over 10 years at Larrakeyah
Verified23Quarry production for construction aggregates: 120 million tonnes annually
Verified24Scaffolding and formwork hire: $1.5 billion market
Directional25Crane hire operations: 5,000 cranes servicing projects
Single source26Waste management in construction: 90% recycling rate targeted
Verified27Digital construction tech adoption: 60% BIM usage
VerifiedConstruction and Infrastructure Interpretation
Queensland's construction industry, a behemoth worth $85.4 billion and employing a quarter of a million people, is not just building houses and roads but is fundamentally reassembling the state itself, from its energy grid and ports to its digital backbone and social fabric, all while trying not to drop the next generation of tradies or the planet in the process.
Manufacturing and Processing
1In 2022-23, Queensland's manufacturing turnover was $112 billion, employing 170,000 people
Verified2Food and beverage manufacturing in Queensland generated $28.5 billion in 2022-23, 25% of national total
Verified3Chemical manufacturing value added $12.3 billion, focused on petrochemicals
Verified4Metal product manufacturing output $15.7 billion in Queensland 2023
Directional5Machinery and equipment manufacturing: $8.9 billion turnover
Single source6Transport equipment manufacturing, including boat building, $6.2 billion
Verified7Wood product manufacturing: $4.5 billion, leveraging forestry resources
Verified8Paper and printing: $3.1 billion industry value in 2022-23
Verified9Non-metallic mineral products (cement, glass): $5.8 billion
Directional10Plastics and rubber products: $4.2 billion manufacturing output
Single source11Textile, clothing and leather: $1.8 billion, with focus on workwear
Verified12Furniture manufacturing: $2.1 billion sales in Queensland
Verified13Pharmaceutical manufacturing grew 15% to $3.4 billion in 2023
Verified14Electronics manufacturing: $1.5 billion, including defence tech
Directional15Queensland's advanced manufacturing hubs produced 20,000 tonnes of composites in 2023
Single source16Beverage manufacturing: 1.2 billion litres of beer and spirits
Verified17Meat processing plants processed 2.5 million tonnes carcass weight
Verified18Bakery products: $2.8 billion market in Queensland
Verified19Dairy processing: 900 million litres into products annually
Directional20Sugar refining: 1.6 million tonnes refined sugar
Single source21Aluminium smelting at Boyne Island: 1.14 million tonnes per year capacity
Verified22Steel fabrication output: 500,000 tonnes structural steel
Verified23Pump and compressor manufacturing: $900 million exports
Verified24Queensland manufacturing R&D spend: $2.1 billion in 2022-23
Directional25Robotics adoption in manufacturing: 25% of firms using automation
Single source263D printing output in Queensland: 10,000 tonnes filament and parts
Verified27Bio-manufacturing: 50 facilities producing vaccines and biotech
VerifiedManufacturing and Processing Interpretation
With a robust industrial smorgasbord that ranges from aluminum smelting and petrochemicals to lifesaving vaccines and a frankly heroic amount of beer, Queensland's manufacturing sector proves it can build everything from a skyscraper's skeleton to your Saturday night, while quietly powering a quarter of the nation's food and drink.
Mining and Resources
1In 2022-23, Queensland produced 252.1 million tonnes of black coal, accounting for 49.8% of Australia's total black coal production
Verified2Queensland's metallurgical coal exports in 2022-23 totalled 113.4 million tonnes, valued at $42.3 billion, representing 78% of Australia's met coal exports
Verified3The value of Queensland's liquefied natural gas (LNG) production in 2022-23 was $28.6 billion, with three major LNG projects contributing 70% of Australia's LNG exports
Verified4Queensland mined 72.5 million tonnes of bauxite in 2022, producing 24.6 million tonnes of alumina
Directional5In 2023, Queensland's gold production reached 257 tonnes, valued at $12.4 billion
Single source6Queensland's copper production in 2022-23 was 152,000 tonnes, with exports worth $1.8 billion
Verified7Zinc production in Queensland totalled 1.24 million tonnes of ore in 2022, yielding 300,000 tonnes of concentrate
Verified8Queensland's nickel operations produced 48,000 tonnes of nickel in 2023
Verified9Rare earth elements production in Queensland reached 5,200 tonnes of REO in 2022-23 from Mount Weld
Directional10Queensland's vanadium project at Arthur River produced initial 1,000 tonnes in 2023 trials
Single source11In 2022-23, Queensland's mining industry employed 58,200 people directly, with a total economic contribution of $85 billion
Verified12Royalties from Queensland minerals and petroleum totalled $10.2 billion in 2022-23
Verified13Queensland's critical minerals projects numbered 152 in development stage as of 2023
Verified14The Bowen Basin produced 80% of Queensland's coal in 2022-23
Directional15Queensland exported $94.6 billion in minerals in 2022-23, primarily to China, Japan and India
Single source16In 2023, Queensland had 38 operating alumina refineries with capacity of 12 million tonnes annually
Verified17Queensland's oil production was 1.2 million barrels in 2022
Verified18Phosphate rock mined in Queensland totalled 2.5 million tonnes in 2022
Verified19Queensland's iron ore exports from Central Queensland ports reached 15 million tonnes in 2023
Directional20Silica sand production in Queensland was 1.8 million tonnes in 2022-23
Single source21Queensland's mining rehabilitation expenditure was $450 million in 2022-23
Verified22Female participation in Queensland mining reached 25% in 2023
Verified23Queensland's renewable energy in mining: 30% of power from renewables in 2023
Verified24Export value of Queensland lithium concentrates: $200 million in 2023
Directional25Cobalt production from Queensland mines: 1,500 tonnes in 2022
Single source26Queensland's graphite exploration projects: 12 active sites in 2023
Verified27Antimony production in Queensland: 800 tonnes in 2023 from Costerfield
Verified28Queensland's mineral processing facilities processed 450 million tonnes of ore in 2022-23
Verified29Investment in Queensland mining exploration: $1.2 billion in 2022-23
Directional30Queensland's thermal coal production: 138.7 million tonnes in 2022-23
Single sourceMining and Resources Interpretation
Queensland’s mines are basically writing the nation’s cheques, funding our future with mountains of coal, rivers of gas, and a glittering array of metals, all while slowly learning to clean up after themselves.
Services, Tourism and Trade
1In 2022-23, Queensland tourism generated $26.9 billion, supporting 270,000 jobs
Verified2International visitor expenditure: $7.4 billion, with 2.1 million arrivals pre-COVID recovery
Verified3Domestic tourism spend: $19.5 billion from 50 million nights stayed
Verified4Great Barrier Reef tourism: 2.2 million visitors, $6 billion economic impact
Directional5Cruise ship passengers: 850,000 in 2023 at Brisbane and Cairns
Single source6Hotel room nights sold: 25 million, occupancy 72%
Verified7Ecotourism operators: 1,500 businesses generating $2.5 billion
Verified8Adventure tourism: $1.8 billion from skydiving, bungee etc.
Verified9Retail trade turnover: $70 billion in Queensland 2022-23
Directional10Wholesale trade value: $145 billion, focused on resources
Single source11Financial services exports: $4.2 billion from Queensland
Verified12Education exports: $5.1 billion from 120,000 international students
Verified13Health services trade: $1.2 billion medical tourism
Verified14Logistics and transport services: $15 billion industry value
Directional15Ports handled 1.2 billion tonnes cargo in 2023
Single source16Air freight: 800,000 tonnes through Brisbane Airport
Verified17Professional services firms: 45,000 employing 400,000
Verified18Call centres: 150,000 seats in Queensland BPO sector
Verified19Film and TV production: $1.1 billion Screen Queensland rebate scheme
Directional20Digital services exports: $3.5 billion software and IT
Single source21E-commerce retail sales: $20 billion in Queensland 2023
Verified22Hospitality employment: 180,000 jobs in pubs, clubs, restaurants
Verified23Event hosting: 500 major events attracting 5 million attendees
Verified24Caravan parks: 1,200 parks with 50,000 sites occupied 70%
Directional25Golf tourism: 1 million rounds played by visitors, $500 million spend
Single source26Cultural venues attendance: 10 million at museums and galleries
Verified27Retail centres: 2,500 shopping centres with $50 billion sales
Verified28Superannuation funds managed: $400 billion assets in Queensland
VerifiedServices, Tourism and Trade Interpretation
Queensland’s economy is a vibrant, sun-soaked engine where a tourist sipping a coffee on the Reef fuels a supply chain that stretches from a classroom in Brisbane to a superannuation fund in Brisbane, proving the state is much more than just a pretty postcard.
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