bree.gov.au Economic Outlook for Australian Resources: Prices, Investments and Volumes Professor Quentin Grafton Executive Director/Chief Economist Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) Presentation to AMEC 4 September 2012
bree.gov.au Overview 1.The ‘Big Picture’ 2.Price Trends 3.Investment Trends -CAPEX -Exploration -Major Mining projects -Investment Futures 4. Volume Trends
bree.gov.au 1. The Big Picture
bree.gov.au Terms of Trade Source: BREE; RBA
bree.gov.au 2. Price Trends
bree.gov.au Commodity Prices (real): Past Trends & Projections Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Index of weekly metals prices (1)
bree.gov.au Index of weekly metals prices (2)
bree.gov.au Key Messages With some exceptions, most resource prices have peaked (2011) and expected to decline relative to these highs. Notwithstanding current market uncertainties (Euro hangover) ‘downs and ups’, price reductions likely to be substantial in longer term due to large supply responses from Australian competitors.
bree.gov.au 3. Investment Trends
bree.gov.au Factors Affecting Investment Factors common to investment decision across the economy: Macroeconomic conditions (interest rates, exchange rate, etc.) Government policies Factors specific to the mining sector or commodity: probability of discovering an economic mineral deposit or extending the resource base of a known deposit; current and expected future prices; mining and processing technologies; and input costs
bree.gov.au CAPEX investment activity in Australia (Real, deflated by CPI) Source: BREE; ABS
bree.gov.au Australia: Annual capital expenditure of private enterprises Source: BREE; ABS
bree.gov.au Ratio of mining to non-mining CAPEX investment in Australia (Real) Source: BREE; ABS
bree.gov.au CAPEX as Percentage of GDP
bree.gov.au Exploration
bree.gov.au Australia: private exploration expenditure (Nominal $)
bree.gov.au Australian private minerals exploration expenditure (Real $)
bree.gov.au Major Mining Projects
bree.gov.au Value of Advanced Mineral and Energy projects ($ ) Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Number of Advanced Mineral & Energy Projects (1996- Apr 2012)
bree.gov.au Value of advanced projects by commodity 2002 vs 2012 Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Advanced Metals Projects
bree.gov.au Value of advanced projects by state 2002 vs 2012 Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Value of advanced and less advanced projects Dec 2002 – April 2012
bree.gov.au Key Messages Capital expenditures in mining industry totalled about $82 billion in ─ highest ever, 70% higher than in and about six times greater than annual average over past 30 years. Historically high levels of investment (real $) will last for next few years given the time it will take for some very large projects to reach completion. Over the longer term high levels of investment unlikely to be maintained if resource commodity prices continue to fall.
bree.gov.au Investment Futures
bree.gov.au Prospects: Value of advanced projects if no new projects were announced Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Cumulative real value of completed projects Source: BREE
bree.gov.au 4. Volume Trends
bree.gov.au Commodity Production: Past Trends Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Commodity Production: Past Trends & Projections Source: BREE
bree.gov.au Bulk Commodities
bree.gov.au Key Messages Large volume increases expected with bulk commodities. Substantial increases in volume of some metals (gold, copper, and alumina), but declines or no change in others.
bree.gov.au Thank You