The Northern Territory’s mineral production value has reached a record-breaking AU$6.08 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, jumping 39.6 per cent from the previous year.
The figures surpass the previous production record of AU$4.93 billion established in 2018-2019 and dwarf last financial year’s AU$4.36 billion tally.
The revenue increase significantly outperforms budget expectations, paving the way for royalty returns higher than the AU$445 million originally projected for 2026 to 2027 fiscal year.
Gold led the commodity boom, with local production climbing to 13.36 tonnes. Total gold sales surged 60 per cent to AU$2.665 billion.
Manganese also saw a rebound, soaring 174 per cent to 5.05 million tonnes following South32’s GEMCO operations on Groote Eylandt returning to full capacity post-Cyclone Megan.
Bauxite sales generated AU$918 million from 13.2 million tonnes, while steady zinc-lead output contributed AU AU$897 million.
Direct employment across exploration, extraction, and processing now sustains over 6,000 jobs, with an additional 7,875 indirect roles supported territory-wide.
Meanwhile, Core Lithium’s Grants open pit operational restart at its Finniss project in May provided momentum for the emerging local critical minerals sector.
Northern Territory Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said the record result validates the state government’s commitment to restoring investor certainty.
“This sector is delivering thousands of well-paying jobs to hard working Territorians, but the benefits don’t stop there,” Maley said.
“The expected stronger royalties from the record revenue result means greater funding for the things that matter like our schools, roads and health services.”
The government is delivering on its year of growth, certainty and security by removing barriers to investment, modernising critical infrastructure and laying the groundwork for sustained economic growth.
