Energy and minerals overview
Robert New and Rebecca Petchey
• Weak economic performance will reduce world demand for mineral resources and result in
a slowdown in production growth in the short term.
• Medium-term demand growth is projected to remain strong, underpinned by strong rates
of economic growth in developing Asia.
• World prices for energy and minerals commodities are expected to recover after 2010 in line
with a broader economic recovery.
• Australian export earnings from energy and minerals are forecast to decline markedly in
2009-10, but are projected to improve over the medium term, driven by recovering world
prices and demand.