While most places boast of gold rushes, Western Australia powers nations with a staggering scale that sees it ship over half the world's seaborne iron ore, produce more gold than any other Australian state, and fuel the global energy transition by increasing its lithium production by nearly 50% in a single year.
Key Takeaways
- Western Australia's iron ore production in 2022-23 was 900.2 million tonnes, representing 53% of global seaborne trade
- Gold production in Western Australia for 2022-23 totalled 514 tonnes, making it the largest gold producing state in Australia
- Lithium production in WA reached 124,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate in 2022-23, up 47% from previous year
- WA LNG production from domestic gas fields was 25 PJ in 2022-23
- Gorgon LNG project exported 530 PJ of LNG in 2022-23, largest in WA
- Wheatstone LNG facility produced 8.8 million tonnes of LNG in 2022-23
- WA grain production totalled 12.5 million tonnes in 2022-23 season
- Wheat exports from WA ports reached 11.2 million tonnes in 2022-23
- Barley production in WA was 2.8 million tonnes in 2022-23, 40% of national total
- WA manufacturing turnover was $45 billion in 2022-23
- Food and beverage manufacturing in WA generated $15 billion revenue in 2023
- Metal fabrication output in WA valued $8.2 billion, serving mining sector
- WA tourism visitor expenditure reached $16.5 billion in 2022-23
- International visitors to WA totalled 1.2 million in 2022-23, up 80% post-COVID
- Domestic overnight visitors spent $10 billion in WA 2022-23
Western Australia's economy thrives on immense mining, agriculture, and energy industries.
Agriculture and Fisheries
1WA grain production totalled 12.5 million tonnes in 2022-23 season
Verified2Wheat exports from WA ports reached 11.2 million tonnes in 2022-23
Verified3Barley production in WA was 2.8 million tonnes in 2022-23, 40% of national total
Verified4Sheep flock in WA numbered 27.5 million head in 2023, largest in Australia
Directional5Wool production from WA merino sheep was 85,000 tonnes clean in 2022-23
Single source6Beef cattle numbers in WA reached 1.8 million head in 2023
Verified7WA horticulture output valued $1.2 billion in 2022-23, led by avocados and table grapes
Verified8Rock lobster catch in WA waters was 5,500 tonnes in 2022-23, 95% exported live to China
Verified9Abalone fishery quota set at 415 tonnes for 2023-24 in WA
Directional10WA canola production hit 1.5 million tonnes in 2022-23, up 20%
Single source11Lupin production in WA was 1.2 million tonnes, supplying 80% of global market
Verified12Dairy cattle in WA totalled 250,000 head, producing 800 million litres milk annually
Verified13Prawn trawl fishery landed 3,200 tonnes in Shark Bay 2022-23
Verified14WA wine grape crush was 18,000 tonnes in 2023 vintage, Margaret River 40%
Directional15Almond orchards in WA expanded to 2,000 hectares, yielding 5,000 tonnes nuts
Single source16WA agriculture GVA was $13.5 billion in 2022-23, 8% of state GDP
Verified17Export value of WA agricultural products reached $12 billion in 2022-23
Verified18Carnaby's black cockatoo habitat supports sustainable timber harvesting 1.5 million m3/year
Verified19Finfish aquaculture produced 15,000 tonnes of yellowtail kingfish in 2022-23
Directional20WA oaten hay exports totalled 2.5 million tonnes in 2022-23 to Asia
Single source21Potato production in WA was 120,000 tonnes from 4,500 ha in 2023
Verified22Pearled clover seed production 20,000 tonnes annually from WA pastures
Verified23WA live goat exports numbered 1.2 million head in 2022-23
Verified24Aquaculture leases cover 500 km2 offshore WA for pearl oysters
Directional25WA avocado production reached 25,000 tonnes from 2,500 ha in 2023
Single source26Wild catch fisheries value $1.1 billion in 2022-23, 15% national total
VerifiedAgriculture and Fisheries Interpretation
While WA’s sheep may be gossiping about their record numbers and avocados are living their best life, the state's formidable agricultural output—from feeding the world with grain and lupins to supplying luxury lobster to China—proves it's not just a mining titan, but a farming powerhouse quietly anchoring its economy in the dirt and sea.
Manufacturing and Construction
1WA manufacturing turnover was $45 billion in 2022-23
Verified2Food and beverage manufacturing in WA generated $15 billion revenue in 2023
Verified3Metal fabrication output in WA valued $8.2 billion, serving mining sector
Verified4Construction industry in WA completed $52 billion in building work 2022-23
Directional5Residential building approvals in Perth metro 12,500 dwellings in 2023
Single source6Non-residential construction value $25 billion in WA 2022-23, led by hospitals
Verified7WA cement production totalled 2.8 million tonnes from Kemerton plant
Verified8Prefabricated building manufacturing grew 15% to $1.5 billion in WA 2023
Verified9Electrical equipment manufacturing turnover $3.1 billion, focused on mining gear
Directional10WA engineering construction employed 95,000 FTE workers in 2023
Single source11Heavy machinery manufacturing output $4.5 billion for resource sector
Verified12Glass and ceramics production 500,000 tonnes in WA plants 2022-23
Verified13WA road construction expenditure $2.3 billion state-funded in 2023
Verified14Aluminium fabrication from Pinjarra smelter 520,000 tonnes ingots annually
Directional15Plastic products manufacturing revenue $2.8 billion in WA 2023
Single source16WA house completion rate 25,000 dwellings in 2022-23
Verified17Mining equipment repair and maintenance $6 billion industry value
Verified18WA steel fabrication capacity 1 million tonnes p.a. for infrastructure
Verified19Renewable energy manufacturing hub at Kwinana produces 200 MW turbine components
Directional20Commercial building projects valued $10 billion in Perth CBD 2023
Single source21WA paint and coatings production 150 million litres annually
Verified22Rail infrastructure construction 500 km new track laid 2022-23
Verified23Furniture manufacturing turnover $1.2 billion, 20% export-oriented
Verified24WA gypsum board production 400,000 tonnes from CSR plant
Directional25Offshore wind farm manufacturing supply chain supports 1,000 jobs in WA
Single source26Concrete batching plants produced 10 million m3 ready-mix in 2023
VerifiedManufacturing and Construction Interpretation
Western Australia’s $45 billion manufacturing engine, from coffee cups to cranes, is essentially a high-stakes, highly-serious workshop where everyone agrees to keep building things so the rest of the country has something to stand on and somewhere to live.
Mining and Minerals
1Western Australia's iron ore production in 2022-23 was 900.2 million tonnes, representing 53% of global seaborne trade
Verified2Gold production in Western Australia for 2022-23 totalled 514 tonnes, making it the largest gold producing state in Australia
Verified3Lithium production in WA reached 124,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate in 2022-23, up 47% from previous year
Verified4Nickel concentrate production was 152,000 tonnes in 2022-23, with WA holding 95% of Australia's reserves
Directional5Bauxite production hit 97 million tonnes in 2022-23, supplying 40% of global alumina needs
Single source6Copper production in WA was 214,000 tonnes in 2022-23, driven by new projects like Winu
Verified7Rare earth oxides production reached 18,000 tonnes in 2022-23 from Mt Weld mine
Verified8Iron ore exports from WA ports totalled 1,169 million tonnes in 2022-23
Verified9WA mining industry employed 133,000 people in 2023, 10% of state workforce
Directional10Mining contributed $171 billion to WA's economy in 2022-23, 52% of GSP
Single source11Pilbara iron ore mines produced 896 million tonnes in 2022-23 from Rio Tinto operations alone
Verified12Gold mines in Kalgoorlie region yielded 70% of WA's total gold output in 2022-23
Verified13WA has 1.2 billion tonnes of identified bauxite resources, largest in world
Verified14Lithium mine expansions added 50,000 tonnes capacity in 2023 at Greenbushes
Directional15Diamond production from Argyle mine legacy sites was 2.5 million carats equivalent in 2022
Single source16Manganese ore exports from WA reached 18 million tonnes in 2022-23
Verified17WA's mineral exploration expenditure was $1.2 billion in 2022-23, highest nationally
Verified18Newcrest's Cadia mine equivalent gold output in WA partnerships was 25 tonnes
Verified19Salt production from WA solar salt fields was 4.5 million tonnes in 2022-23
Directional20Heavy mineral sands production totalled 2.1 million tonnes of ilmenite in 2022-23
Single source21WA iron ore royalty payments to state were $11.5 billion in 2022-23
Verified22Alumina production from WA refineries was 25 million tonnes in 2022-23
Verified23Zinc production hit 300,000 tonnes concentrate from Golden Grove mine
Verified24WA's uranium resources stand at 69,000 tonnes, with potential for 200,000t
Directional25Coal production from Collie mines was 5.8 million tonnes in 2022-23
Single source26Mineral processing plants in WA processed 1.5 billion tonnes of ore in 2022-23
Verified27WA exported $187 billion in minerals in 2022-23, 90% to China
Verified28New vanadium project at Gabanintha to produce 22,000tpa V2O5 from 2024
Verified29Graphite exploration resources in WA total 50 million tonnes at 10% grade
Directional30Cobalt production from Murrin Murrin was 3,200 tonnes in 2022-23
Single sourceMining and Minerals Interpretation
Western Australia is less a state and more a geological ATM, supplying over half the world's seaborne iron ore, nearly all of Australia's gold and nickel, a commanding slice of global lithium and bauxite, and an economy so robust that its mining sector, employing a tenth of its workforce, doesn't just contribute to the coffers—it essentially *is* the coffers, generating over half the state's wealth with enough metal in the ground to keep the machines humming and the royalties rolling in for generations.
Oil and Gas
1WA LNG production from domestic gas fields was 25 PJ in 2022-23
Verified2Gorgon LNG project exported 530 PJ of LNG in 2022-23, largest in WA
Verified3Wheatstone LNG facility produced 8.8 million tonnes of LNG in 2022-23
Verified4WA oil production totalled 22 million barrels in 2022-23, mainly offshore
Directional5North West Shelf LNG exports reached 13 million tonnes in 2022-23
Single source6WA natural gas reserves estimated at 1,400 PJ, 60% offshore
Verified7Pluto LNG train produced 4.9 million tonnes in 2022-23 from Woodside operations
Verified8WA domestic gas consumption was 450 PJ in 2022-23, supplied by Carnarvon basin
Verified9Ichthys LNG equivalent WA feed gas processing capacity 8.9 mtpa
Directional10WA oil and gas industry employed 28,000 workers in 2023
Single source11Browse basin undeveloped gas resources 25 Tcf, WA's largest frontier
Verified12WA pipeline gas deliveries totalled 380 PJ to east coast markets in 2022-23
Verified13Scarborough project to add 5 mtpa LNG capacity from 2026, Shell-operated
Verified14WA condensate production was 9 million barrels in 2022-23
Directional15Beetaloo basin shale gas potential 200 Tcf, with WA extensions explored
Single source16WA gas royalties contributed $2.1 billion to state revenue in 2022-23
Verified17Floatel rigs operating in WA offshore fields averaged 85% utilisation in 2023
Verified18WA hydrogen projects pipeline totals 50 initiatives, aiming 10 GW electrolysis by 2030
Verified19Carnarvon basin produced 70% of WA's oil in 2022-23
Directional20WA CCS projects store 2 Mt CO2 annually from Gorgon since 2019
Single source21Barossa gas field development to supply 1.6 mtpa LNG feed from 2025
Verified22WA gas exploration wells drilled 45 in 2022-23, success rate 25%
Verified23Pyrenees oil field output 3.5 million barrels in 2022-23
Verified24WA LNG exports valued $45 billion in 2022-23
Directional25Canning basin conventional gas resources 10 Tcf undeveloped
Single source26WA oil rig count averaged 12 offshore rigs in 2023
Verified27Wheatstone domestic gas plant supplies 200 TJ/day to WA market
VerifiedOil and Gas Interpretation
Despite exporting a king's ransom in LNG, Western Australia cleverly keeps its domestic gas tank just full enough to power its own industries while quietly eyeing its massive undeveloped gas resources as the ultimate rainy-day fund.
Tourism and Services
1WA tourism visitor expenditure reached $16.5 billion in 2022-23
Verified2International visitors to WA totalled 1.2 million in 2022-23, up 80% post-COVID
Verified3Domestic overnight visitors spent $10 billion in WA 2022-23
Verified4Perth airport passenger movements 15 million in 2022-23
Directional5Margaret River wine tourism generated $1.1 billion economic impact annually
Single source6Broome cable beach camel rides attracted 250,000 visitors in 2023
Verified7Rottnest Island ferry passengers 700,000 in 2022-23 season
Verified8WA national parks visitation 15 million visits in 2022-23
Verified9Cruise ship passengers in Fremantle port 100,000 in 2023 season
Directional10Ningaloo reef tourism diving permits issued 50,000 annually
Single source11WA hotels occupancy rate averaged 72% in Perth 2023
Verified12Adventure tourism sector employed 25,000 in WA 2023
Verified13Purnululu (Bungle Bungles) park visitors 30,000 in 2022-23
Verified14WA cultural tourism events drew 2 million attendees, $500m spend
Directional15Exmouth cape range national park 200,000 visitors yearly
Single source16WA services sector GVA $150 billion in 2022-23, 45% state economy
Verified17Financial services in Perth managed $2 trillion assets under management 2023
Verified18WA education exports from international students $3 billion in 2023
Verified19Retail trade turnover in WA $60 billion annually 2023
Directional20Health care services employed 200,000 in WA 2023
Single source21WA logistics and transport freight task 250 billion tonne-km 2022-23
Verified22Professional services firms in Perth billed $20 billion 2023
Verified23WA real estate transactions 50,000 sales valued $30 billion 2023
Verified24Telecommunications services revenue $8 billion in WA household market
Directional25WA business services sector growth 5% to $25 billion turnover 2023
Single sourceTourism and Services Interpretation
While Western Australia’s economy hums along on a $150 billion services backbone and manages trillions, it seems everyone else is just trying to squeeze into a national park, book a hotel room, or find a camel with a better view than their stock portfolio.
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