Value of Territory mineral production has reached a record $6.08 billion in 2025/26 – highest ever recorded and a 39.6 per cent increase on last year.
Mining and energy sector sustains more than 6,000 direct jobs through exploration, extraction, processing and production activities, with an additional 7,875 jobs supported by the mining industry across the Territory.
Result pumps hundreds of millions of dollars worth of royalties into government coffers to benefit taxpayers.
Territory mineral production has surged to a record $6.08 billion in revenue in 2025/26 – the highest value ever recorded, reflecting strong performance across the resources sector and growing economic momentum.
The record comes as the Finocchiaro CLP Government prepares to welcome hundreds of delegates to NT Resources Week on September 2 and 3.
The 2025/26 result is a 39.6 per cent increase on the previous year’s $4.36 billion and surpasses the previous record of $4.93 billion set in 2018/19.
It significantly out-stripped Budget forecasts, meaning Territorians will benefit from even stronger royalties than the $445 million forecast to go into government coffers in 2026/27.
The mining and energy sector sustains more than 6,000 direct jobs through exploration, extraction, processing and production activities, with an additional 7,875 jobs supported by the mining industry across the Territory.
Minister for Mining and Energy Gerard Maley said the record result reflects the Finocchiaro CLP Government’s work to restore investor confidence and create the certainty needed to deliver real economic benefits for Territorians.
“The Finocchiaro CLP Government is backing our resources sector because when it grows, opportunities flow right across the Territory – from regional communities through to local businesses and our service and supply chains,” Minister Maley said.
“This sector is delivering thousands of well-paying jobs to hard working Territorians, but the benefits don’t stop there.
“The expected stronger royalties from the record revenue result means greater funding for the things that matter like our schools, roads and health services.”
Gold was the largest contributor to the record result, with production increasing to 13.36 tonnes and the total value of gold sold increasing by 60 per cent to $2.665 billion.
Manganese also made a significant contribution, with production increasing 174 per cent to 5.05 million tonnes as South32’s GEMCO operation on Groote Eylandt returned to normal levels following Cyclone Megan in 2024.
Bauxite production increased to 13.2 million tonnes, up from 12.9 million tonnes, with sales valued at $918 million. Zinc-lead production remained steady at 638,000 tonnes, with sales valued at $897 million.
“The Territory’s resources industry is delivering across commodities, from gold and manganese through to bauxite, zinc, lead and emerging critical minerals,” Minister Maley said.
The Territory’s emerging lithium industry also recorded activity during the year, with Core Lithium resuming mining at its Finniss Operations in May 2026, including production restarting at the Grants open pit.
The Finocchiaro CLP 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.
Compilation of reported mineral production for 2025/26 is undertaken by the Department of Mining and Energy under the Mineral Titles Act 2010. The aggregated data will be made available at industry.nt.gov.au and resourcingtheterritory.nt.gov.au.
