Australia’s mining industry could be on the cusp of another upswing, with 2026 shaping up as a potentially pivotal year for the sector. Two decades ago, Australia experienced a mining boom driven by soaring global demand – particularly from China – for iron ore and coal. That cycle delivered record prices and export volumes before fading in the early 2010s, as the global financial crisis undermined confidence and China’s rapid growth began to plateau. In recent years, momentum has been building again, underpinned by the clean energy transition, decarbonisation efforts and record gold prices. The question now facing ... (full story)