The path to Australia's industry and agriculture cannot be called easy and prosperous. Serious disasters did not fall on this continent, it was not affected by world wars, and climatic conditions contributed in every way to the development of various industries. Nevertheless, the country was for a long time under the influence of Great Britain, which in a certain sense acted as a deterrent in development. On the other hand, the first prerequisites for the formation of agriculture were laid precisely by English industry, which Australia supplied with resources. Industry and agriculture on the mainland developed gradually, but today the country occupies a leading position in terms of production volumes in several industries at once.
Industrial and agricultural features of the economy
Due to its geographic location and rich deposits of resources, Australia is distinguished by a wide range of industries covered, both in industrial and agricultural activities. Here, mechanical engineering, printing, textile, oil refining, metallurgical and other industries are steadily developing. At the same time, Australia's manufacturing industry is considered one of the most developed in the world. The country regularly ranks first in terms of per capita electricity generation.
Commodity sectors also do not lag behind, providing products with domestic market needs. Moreover, established export has long been the main reference point for a number of enterprises. In most cases, these are agricultural products that Australia imports in large quantities. Industry in many sectors is equally active in supplying the world market with its goods. This is reflected both in the economic climate within the country and in the investment attractiveness of the local economy for foreign partners.
General characteristics of the industry
The country's leading industry is precisely industry, since a third of the population is employed in this area. The most successful areas are extractive industries, ferrous metallurgy, automotive, food, chemical, light and other industries in Australia, not to mention energy. In the export of bauxite and coal, the country is in first place, and in the supply of iron ore in second. In addition, gold mining has also been established , the export of which brings considerable income to enterprises. About 35% of Australia's total exports are primary metals, fuels, and minerals.
Mining industry
Perhaps this is one of the main segments of the Australian economy. The region is provided with many varieties of mineral resources, the use of which has allowed the state to become one of the largest suppliers of rocks in the world. In particular, Australia's mining industry is focused on quarrying with bauxite, opals, diamonds and lead. Coal, manganese and iron ore are being mined. In addition, zinc, silver, tin, nickel, tungsten, titanium and other metals are mined. It was the use of these raw materials that allowed the country to form a powerful metallurgical industry. This, incidentally, applies to other sectors of the Australian economy . The region’s independence from imports greatly facilitates the development of new sectors through its own available raw materials.
Energetics
The basis of the energy potential of the state is coal - stone and brown. The only problem in this sector is the lack of natural gas and oil. Since many Australian industries require the use of these resources, some are supplied with imports. Oil companies in recent years have significantly increased production volumes. And yet, most of the existing power plants are thermal power plants that operate on coal. Metallurgical enterprises and developed transport networks provide a modern infrastructure of energy facilities, which increases their efficiency.
If the mining industry of Australia is self-sufficient and independent (at least from imports), then modern energy, due to technological features, requires the supply of third-party resources. Hydroelectric resources have limitations, but there are enough of them for a minimum supply. Hydroelectric power plants are mainly located on the island of Tasmania and in the so-called Australian Alps.
Engineering and chemical industry
Transport engineering can be called the pride of the region. The largest centers of the automotive industry are located in Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. Equipment for rail infrastructure is being manufactured in Sydney and Newcastle, while shipbuilding facilities are located in Davenport and Brisbane. However, a strict territorial division of production is not observed. Agricultural engineering is also the foundation Australia has long been without. The industry of this industry is mainly located in the southeast of the country. Chemical enterprises are also concentrated in the southern part of the mainland. Factories produce acids, explosives, fertilizers for agriculture, synthetic materials and plastic resins.
Food industry
The food industry is on the list of major business sectors Australia is targeting. The specialization of industry, as already noted, is tied to the extraction of raw materials and mountain resources with their subsequent processing. But food production is quite developed. It is primarily about dairy and canning enterprises, but there are many other types of this industry.
Brewing factories, meat-cold plants, canned meat, flour-grinding and other manufactures enter the world market , through which the whole of Australia is supplied. Industry in the food sector has long mastered specific industries, including the processing of tobacco leaves. In addition to providing internal requests, factories are engaged in export. No wonder Australia is one of the largest agricultural suppliers of agricultural products along with Canada and Brazil.
Australia Agriculture
Agricultural activity of the country is diverse and multifaceted. Here, with equal success, livestock, crop production, winemaking and other industries are developing. There are many sectors in the global agricultural market where Australia is the first. The economy and industry, thanks to a close connection, allowed the country to become a leader in the production of wool. In addition, there are high volumes of supplies of dairy and grain products, sugar, meat and fruits. Horticulture and gardening are thriving in South Australia. Irrigated lands also produce good yields of cotton, tobacco, and sugarcane.
Conclusion
Australia firmly holds a leading position in the global market for industry and agricultural products. Many factors contribute to this, but there are also adverse aspects. For example, agriculture in some parts of the mainland is difficult due to drought and poor soil fertility, but this is only part of the problems Australia faces in this area. The industry also has its difficulties, but the introduction of new technologies and the optimized use of imported raw materials help the state support the growth of production volumes. Despite all the difficulties, the region steadily maintains its place in the lists of leading industrial-agricultural countries. A balanced economy also helps in this, without which it is impossible to maintain industry and agriculture, which is more an unstable industry (in terms of income).