FEATURE: Industrial uncertainty and an urgent need for more infrastructure are putting the squeeze on iron ore exports through Port Hedland, while productivity increases and transshipment options are also being mulled over statewide.
FEATURE: Mining sector players are creating innovative solutions – particularly in the iron ore, uranium, and base metals areas, and the graduate labour market – to deal with the changing economic environment.
Welshpool-based contractor MACA has raised its full-year net profit by 12 per cent to $55.4 million despite weather setbacks during the year, and increased revenue by 25.2 per cent to $595.4 million.
Perth nickel miner Western Areas has returned to the black with a full-year net profit of $25.5 million, on the back of an improvement in the price of nickel and lower production costs.
Waste management company Tox Free Solutions has announced a 60 per cent increase in net profit to 21.7 million on the back of a 30 per cent rise in revenue to $369.9 million.
Iron ore exporter Atlas Iron has taken a $25 million hit to earnings as a result of restructuring and valuation changes to its Centaurus Metals investment.
Iluka Resources says it will continue cutting production until conditions improve and blamed lower prices for a fall in first half net profit by two thirds.
Santos has lifted its dividend to shareholders, despite suffering a 24 per cent slide in its first half profit as writedowns in Indonesia offset higher production and sales.
Engineering and infrastructure company RCR Tomlinson has returned a fifth straight year of revenue growth, delivering a statutory net profit after tax of $43.3 million.
Pilbara iron ore miner BC Iron has flagged lower production and haulage rates from its Nullagine joint venture operation with Fortescue Metals Group while initiatives are put in place to more efficiently process iron ore from the site.
Emeco Holdings has reported a net loss of $21.6 million, down from a $28.5 million profit last year, following a series of downgrades and write-downs on the back of a slowdown in the mining sector.
Woodside Petroleum has increased half-year net profit by 27 per cent and says it is confident about gas demand despite a large number of new projects coming online.
The government has warned MP Clive Palmer against using his position in parliament to insult China amid a high profile legal battle with a Chinese company.
World oil prices have fallen, with the New York benchmark below $US95 a barrel for the first time since January ahead of the weekly US inventories report and the contract's expiration.
BHP Billiton has lifted its full-year profit by 23 per cent, while at the same time confirming it will spin-off its aluminium, coal, manganese and silver assets into a new company, which is set to be headquartered in Perth.
Copper explorer India Resources has signed a placement agreement with Resource Capital Funds for the issue of up to 200 million shares to raise up to $1.6 million.
Gold explorer and developer Doray Minerals will take an earnings hit of between $40 million and $50 million due to a fall in the Australian dollar gold price.
Balcatta-based Sirius Resources has been granted a mining lease by the Department of Mines and Petroleum for its proposed Nova nickel project near Balladonia.
Engineering contractor Monadelphous Group has announced a 6.3 per cent fall in full-year profit to $146.5 million on softening activity in the mining and minerals sector.
