Download Page as PDF Printer Friendly Page
INDUSTRY PROFILES

Metal Manufacturing


  • NSW has the largest metal manufacturing industry in Australia, accounting for 35 per cent of the nation's metal manufacturing businesses and almost one third of Australia's metal manufacturing employment
  • The industry grew nearly 50 per cent between 2001-02 and 2004-05, making it one of the fastest growing manufacturing sectors in Australia
  • NSW companies are leading exporters of metal products. In 2005-06, NSW companies exported $3.5 billion worth of metal products.
NSW is home to a large and world class metal manufacturing industry, generating $6.3 billion for the national economy. Metal manufacturing is an important enabler of many other manufacturing, service and export industries.

Metal manufacturing comprises businesses engaged in the manufacture of iron, steel, aluminium and other nonferrous metal products such as rolled steel coil and aluminium ingots, metal beams, plate and foils, as well as components used in a variety of other industries - roofing, windows, doors, guttering, cans, gas cylinders, hardware tools, plumbing fittings and metal coatings. At the higher end of the value chain the industry supports the manufacture of machinery, equipment and technical instruments.

NSW based companies such as BlueScope Steel, Hydro Aluminium Kurri Kurri, OneSteel and Tomago Aluminium operate some of the largest manufacturing facilities in Australia and the southern hemisphere.

These major companies are critical in fostering small to medium manufacturers, service providers, export hubs, and in creating demand for research and development facilities.

NSW Competitive Strengths
Businesses in NSW are ideally positioned to compete in a highly contested global marketplace. The NSW metal manufacturing industry is supported by a skilled and flexible workforce, a low cost operational environment, and access to efficient and leading edge infrastructure.

  • Skilled Workforce
    NSW offers a highly educated workforce and access to major metal manufacturing education and training facilities
    • NSW has the largest metal manufacturing workforce in Australia and produces large numbers of graduates in key engineering, science and business disciplines
    • 55 per cent of the NSW working age population is educated at a tertiary level, the highest proportion of all Australian States.

  • Business Innovation
    NSW businesses are focused on innovation in management, technology and business practices to create high quality metal products and related services that are cost competitive in growing Asian markets.
    • NSW businesses spent $630 million on metals research and development in the five years to 2004-05
    • NSW businesses maintain international competitiveness by continually upgrading plant and equipment.

  • Infrastructure
    • Newcastle, Port Kembla and Sydney are key ports for Australia's trade in metals products
    • NSW has some of Australia's largest deposits of accessible thermal and coking coal for low cost electricity supply and steel production
    • NSW universities are leading centres for metal research and maintain key nodes with nationwide research facilities.


See Innovation in the manufacturing sector.

For more information

Industry Division | +61 2 9338 6600 | industry@business.nsw.gov.au