South Australia's export market continues to go from strength to strength under the Malinauskas Labor Government, with the state registering record exports valued at $18.24 billion..
Copper exports have surged past the $5 billion mark, with refined copper and copper products delivering more than half a billion dollars in new value in the year to April 2026.
Australian Bureau of Statistics export figures showed South Australia's total copper exports hit a record $5.2 billion in the 12 months to April 2026, including $3.35 billion from copper and copper products, and $1.85 billion from copper ores and concentrates.
The $3.35 billion figure for refined copper and copper products is up $542.6 million on the previous 12 months – almost 20 per cent up on already sustained high export values.
The largest trading markets for South Australia copper exports are:
- India - $1.32 billion (up 195 per cent)
- Malaysia - $1.3 billion (up 50 per cent)
- China - $1.17 billion (up 14 per cent)
- Thailand - $459.9 million (up 37 per cent)
- Taiwan - $380.1 million (up 20 per cent)
A key growth market has been Southeast Asia, with more than 40 per cent (valued at $2.27 billion) of all copper exports going to the emerging economic powerhouse.
The state's total goods exports reached yet another record high $18.24 billion this month, exceeding the previous record of $18.19 billion in February. This is an 11 per cent increase year on year, well ahead of the national growth of 3.2 per cent.
Other highlights include:
- Grain exports – up 12.8 per cent to $2.98 billion
- Meat exports – up 26 per cent to $1.87 billion
- Seafood exports – up 47 per cent to $290 million
Air exports through Adelaide Airport grew 1.8 per cent year-on-year to 4,706 tonnes the total export value reaching $365.2 million.
As put by Tom Koutsantonis
Copper exports continue to set records in South Australia.
We know that global demand for copper could remain buoyant long into the future and, with two thirds of Australia's proven copper deposits, South Australia is incredibly well-placed to meet this demand.
We're doing everything in our power to seize this significant opportunity – our new Indenture agreement with BHP could help unlock a world-class copper province in South Australia.
BHP has forecast capital expenditure of up to $25 billion in South Australia over the next 10 years, and we are providing investment certainty that will harness this historic opportunity to expand copper mining and production.
As put by Chris Picton
Our state's exports are the highest they have ever been and we're continuing to build exports across a varied range of trading partners which helps us respond to geopolitical challenges.
Our state is increasingly becoming a global supplier of the critical minerals needed for the energy transition and the technologies shaping the future.
The rapid economic growth of the Southeast Asian region, in particular, is a significant opportunity for South Australian businesses, with the region now accounting for more than 40 per cent of all copper exports.
Through our recent trade mission to the region and the establishment of a new trade and investment manager in Vietnam, our government is building a more resilient and more diversified export economy, creating jobs and investment here at home.
