Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics figures for the September 2007 quarter have indicated a 3.4 per cent decrease in earnings from minerals exports in comparison to the June 2007 quarter.

Australian Bureau of Agricultural Resource Economics figures for the September 2007 quarter have indicated a 3.4 per cent decrease in earnings from minerals exports in comparison to the June 2007 quarter.

A strong Australian dollar and continuing weak commodity prices contributed to total mineral export earnings falling by $900 million from the previous quarter to $26.4 billion.

Earnings from nickel dropped 49 per cent to $1.26 billion, gold earnings were down 10 per cent to $2.723 billion, liquefied natural gas was down five per cent to $1.13 billion and coking coal returned four per cent less, down to $3.362 billion.

While total export earnings from minerals were down, ABARE noted gains recorded from exports of iron ore and pellets up two per cent to $4.157 billion, uranium oxide was up 44 per cent to $285 million, lead, up 24 per cent to $525 million.

Crude oil exports were up nine per cent to $2.197 billion, manganese was up 51 per cent to $206 million and thermal coal was up three per cent to $1.687 billion.

ABARE attributed these gains to higher export volumes of crude oil, lead and iron ore and pellets, and higher prices for uranium oxide, thermal coal and manganese.