By Karen E. Thuermer, AJOT Despite the economic challenges being felt around the world, Australia has been experiencing its own economic boom thanks largely because of its mining industry. While opinions are mixed, that industry, however, could be showing some cracks due to a softening of commodity prices and renewed concerns over the European Union debt crisis. Nevertheless, needs within the Australian market continue to catch the attention of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), a global shipping and logistics company that specializes in providing global shipping and logistics services to manufacturers of cars, trucks, heavy equipment and specialized cargo. WWL recently inaugurated service to Adelaide, which marks a new port call on WWL’s route from Europe via North America. That call, made on May 5, was made by m/v Aida, a Pure Car Truck Carrier (PCTC) capable of handling 6,700 cars or a combination of 3,000 cars and 400 pieces of rolling equipment. Two hundred meters in length, the ship is one of the most efficient PCTCs in the world. Rob Lord, Head of Region Oceania at WWL, comments on the interest WWL has in the South Australia market. “We have, for some time, seen increased demand in the market place for Adelaide, both from North America as well as Europe, mainly driven by large mining projects,” he says. “We have had several inducement calls over the years and to support this continued customer demand we now establish a fixed port call.” The announcement comes on the heels of the recent addition of Galveston on the U.S. East Coast to the route. WWL carries cars to the Oceania region, but a press release issued by WWL indicates that the trade is increasingly driven by Australia’s mining and agricultural industries and the need for heavy equipment in the country. A Love for Mining Australia’s love affair with the mining industry has been in the headlines for many years, particularly given its recent boom. While WWL does not name this project specifically in any of its materials, the Olympic Dam copper-uranium mine and plant could have an impact on its business and that of any other carriers operating in the region. The Olympic Dam copper-uranium mine and plant are situated in South Australia, 560 kilometers northwest of Adelaide, and is a key player in that region’s economy particularly given that mining is expected to be the nation’s fastest growing industry in the next five years. Not only is the mining industry expected to add significant jobs to the region, three times as many jobs are expected to be created outside the mines as well. This will lead to a housing boom and increased demand for products such as equipment and vehicles. In fact, overall job growth in mining and mining-related work in Australia is expected to increase by over 100 percent by 2031, outpacing other sectors of the economy. WWL points out that not only are an impressive number of mining projects being planned for Australia; numerous projects are approved each month. In 2010 alone, Australia attracted 12 percent of global mining exploration budgets. The mining industry is on track to attract a massive A$170 billion in investments for resource projects over the next two years. “Although this capital expenditure in mining refers to spending on equipment, plants and assets directly related to mining or concentrating raw materials, it will also involve construction of infrastructure critical to transport the minerals for export,” a WWL press release reports. Potentially the World’s Biggest Mine BHP Billiton, which operates the Olympic Dam copper-uranium mine, announced plans in 2007 to invest some A$6 billion to A$7 billion in an expansion of the Olympic Dam copper-uranium mine. If the expansion proceeds, this means annual ore production would increase seven-fold to 70 million tons, and copper production would increase from approximately 180,000 tonnes per annumto approximately 750,000 tonnes per annum. In addition, gold production would increase from 80,000 ounces per