ABSTRACT
Foreign mining companies, especially iron ore and coal exporters, have apparently sometimes suffered from failing to adopt a more unified approach in dealing with customers, but it is difficult to differentiate in specific cases between the effect of disunity and that of prevailing market conditions for the commodity involved. The mining industry is highly capital-intensive, and consequently the numbers employed are small in relation to output. Mineral processing absorbs other resources, of course, particularly energy resources, usually provided in Australia by state authorities in the form of electricity. Mineral processing is one of the most energy-intensive industrial activities carried on in Australia. Mineral exports have made a major and growing contribution to Australia’s export income over recent years. Foreign investors have played an important role in providing technology and technical expertise, though the significance of their contribution has varied from sector to sector of the industry.
