The result is contained in the December quarter Australian Mineral Statistics report, released today by Phillip Glyde, Executive Director of ABARE.

"This strong performance mainly reflects increases in export volumes for over two thirds of the energy and mineral commodities. Compared with the December quarter 2005, export earnings were 19 per cent higher," Mr Glyde stated.

"The commodity that had the largest increase in export earnings in the December quarter 2006 was nickel, up $358 million (21 per cent) to $2034 million. This was a result of increases in both export volumes and export prices," Mr Glyde said.

Other commodities that recorded significant increases in export earnings in the December quarter 2006 were: zinc, up $236 million (25 per cent) to $1.2 billion; iron ore and pellets, up $194 million (5 per cent) to $4.1 billion; and alumina, up $107 million (7 per cent) to $1.7 billion.

The index of export prices of Australian mineral resources (export unit returns) fell by 3 per cent in the December quarter 2006, compared with the previous quarter.

"This reflects a reduction in energy minerals prices of 9 per cent while metals and related minerals prices rose by 2 per cent," Mr Glyde explained.

Mr Glyde also noted that export earnings for some major export commodities decreased during the December quarter 2006. Earnings from coking coal, aluminium and refined gold decreased due mainly to lower export volumes, while export earnings from crude oil, LNG and petroleum refinery products decreased because of lower prices.  Nevertheless export earnings remain considerably higher than a year ago, except for coking coal and petroleum products.