Sales of WA resources rose 23 per cent to $48.4 billion, helped by a 60 per cent in nickel sales, over the 2006 calendar year, according to new statistics released by the state Department of Industry and Resources
The full text of a departmental announcement is pasted below
The astonishing growth of Western Australia's resources sector has been reflected in new figures which show sales rose 23 per cent in 2006 to reach a remarkable $48.4 billion.
Resources Minister Francis Logan said the result was achieved through robust global demand for the State's petroleum and mineral resources and strong commodity prices.
"This outstanding result has come despite adverse weather conditions in the first quarter of 2006, rising cost pressures, mining equipment supply constraints and some shipping bottlenecks," Mr Logan said.
"In just one year, we have seen nickel sales increase by 60 per cent, gold sales increase by 35.5 per cent and iron ore sales increase by 29.2 per cent.
"Nickel is now WA's third largest resource sector, with most of the resource going to China (23 per cent), Canada (19 per cent) and Finland (15 per cent)."
The new figures, which have been compiled by the Department of Industry and Resources, show:
| .. | Total value of sales in 2006 | Increase on 2005 | Percentage increase |
| Petroleum | $15.6 billion | $1.1 billion | 8.3 |
| Iron Ore | $14.6 billion | $3.3 billion | 29.2 |
| Nickel | $5.6 billion | $2.1 billion | 60 |
| Gold | $4.2 billion | $1.1 billion | 35.5 |
| Base Metals | $1.2 billion | $579 million | 97 |
The Minister said the new data - coupled with recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures which showed WA was leading the nation in exploration spending - illustrated the strength of the local economy.
Mr Logan said he expected the strong demand for resources by WA's trading partners to continue.
"But that doesn't mean we can be complacent," he said.
"With planned mine and port expansions, we expect the iron ore sector in particularly to continue its record-breaking run through 2007.
