South Australia’s copper industry has reached a record-breaking milestone, with exports hitting $5.3 billion as the state moves to unlock billions of dollars in potential investment across its mining sector.
New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show total copper exports, including refined copper as well as copper ores and concentrates, reached $5.3 billion in the year to June 2026.
The surge comes as the State Government’s updated indenture agreement with BHP has officially been proclaimed into law, setting the stage for the expansion of the state’s Copper Province.
The updated agreement modernises the more than 40-year-old framework governing development at Olympic Dam and across the copper-rich Gawler Craton, with the Government describing it as a major step towards positioning South Australia as one of the world’s leading copper provinces.
The latest export figures form part of a broader boom for the state’s resources sector, with energy and mining goods exports reaching a record $7 billion in 2025-26, an increase of $1.2 billion, or 21.1 per cent, on the previous year. Copper was the major contributor to that growth.
South Australia is home to around two-thirds of Australia’s proven copper deposits, putting the state in a strong position to capitalise on growing global demand for the critical mineral.
The updated indenture provides clearer regulatory pathways for future activities across BHP’s Copper Province, including expansion projects, environmental and heritage management and the operation of the Roxby Downs township.
It also includes commitments to transition to the current Aboriginal Heritage Act, improve water extraction practices and maximise opportunities for local jobs and businesses.
The legislation received overwhelming support in State Parliament, with 67 of the state’s 69 parliamentarians backing the Bill after it was unanimously endorsed by a cross-party committee.
“The export figures continue to tell a clear story – the world wants copper, and we are uniquely poised to supply it,” said Minister for Energy and Mining Tom Koutsantonis.
“The expansion of this highly prospective Copper Province can unlock projects with the potential to extend into the next century, supporting the state’s economy for decades.
“The updated indenture agreement was unanimously endorsed by a cross-party committee before receiving the overwhelming backing of the South Australian Parliament.”
BHP has forecast capital expenditure of up to $25 billion in South Australia over the next decade, with the majority expected to go towards significantly increasing copper production.
With copper playing an increasingly important role in the global transition towards renewable energy and electrification, the State Government says South Australia is well placed to benefit from the growing demand.
The new framework could pave the way for major investment across the state’s mining regions, while creating opportunities for local businesses, workers and communities.
For South Australia, the record export figures signal the growing economic importance of one of the state’s biggest natural assets.
