The NSW manufacturing industry generated more than A$105 billion in sales and service income in 2004-05. It contributed A$31 billion to the NSW economy in 2004-05, more than 11% of total income across all industries.
NSW accounts for more than:
- One-third of Australia's food and beverages manufacturing industry, with particular strengths in flour milling, cereal food and biscuit manufacturing plus soft drink, cordial and syrup manufacturing
- About 46% of Australia's medicinal and pharmaceutical product manufacturing
- More than:
- 40% of Australia's publishing industry (newspapers, magazines and books)
- half of Australia's iron and steel manufacturing
- half of Australia's architectural aluminium product manufacturing
- half of Australia's aircraft manufacturing industry including aircraft repair and maintenance
- 60% of Australia's medical and surgical equipment manufacturing
- half of Australia's electronic equipment manufacturing, including computers and business machines.
The State's manufacturing industry employs about 320,000 people (as at November 2006), about 10% of the NSW workforce. The manufacturing sectors employing the most people are machinery and equipment manufacturing; food, beverages and tobacco manufacturing; metal products manufacturing; and printing, publishing and recorded media production.
Exports
In 2005-06, NSW exported A$10.6 billion of manufactured goods, representing 40% of the State's total merchandise exports and 24% of its total exports. Among NSW's top exports are medicinal and pharmaceutical products; office machines and computing equipment; and professional, scientific and controlling instruments.
NSW's largest export markets for manufactured goods are New Zealand, the US and Japan. Together, these export markets accounted for more than 42% of the State's manufactured exports.
NSW manufacturing companies successful in the global marketplace include Nautitech (marine, automotive and mining), GKN (aerospace and defence), the Byron Group (transport design and solutions) and Broens Industries (design, tooling and manufacture).
Research and development
Twelve Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) are dedicated to manufacturing technologies, and bring together researchers from industry, universities and government laboratories such as the CSIRO and the Australian Research Council.
Manufacturing related CRCs include institutions focused on advanced composite structures, metals casting manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing systems and technologies, such as robotics and mechatronics.
Industry strengths
NSW has a highly developed and diverse manufacturing industry with major national and global operators.
- Aerospace manufacturing includes maintenance, repair and overhaul, plus component and engine manufacture. Companies include Boeing and BAE Systems, as well as Turbomeca Australasia and Eurocopter
- Rail and transport systems manufacturing includes the rolling stock specialists United Goninan and EDI Rail
- Automotive components manufacturers include US Group Dana, which exports axle sets to Ford and Mazda in Thailand, and Broens Industries whose client base includes Mercedes Benz and General Motors Holden
- Marine manufacturing has a strong defence focus with Tenix, ADI and Forgacs. Super yacht builder Azzura Marine is also based in NSW
- Precision manufacturing companies such as biomedical experts Cochlear, ResMed and Ventracor as well as avionics and communications supplier Rockwell Collins have found NSW an effective base for Asia Pacific operations.