According to the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE), Australia's LNG exports are expected to increase at an average rate of 22%/year between 2012-2013 and 2018-2019 to reach 79 Mt, up from 24 Mt in 2012–13. In value, LNG exports should rise by 28%/year, from A$13.7bn to A$60.4bn (US$12.7-55.8bn). A number of large export projects underlie the massive projected growth in Australian gas production over the remainder of the outlook period (2014–15 to 2018–19). The seven LNG projects currently under construction in Australia will more than double gas production from 62 bcm in 2012–13 to 151 bcm in 2018–19.
Coal exports volumes are also projected to increase over the medium term. Thermal coal and metallurgical coal exports are projected to grow at 5.1%/year and 3.8%/year to total 244 Mt and 181 Mt, respectively, in 2018–19. In 2014–15, Australian thermal coal production is forecast to increase by 2.5% to 255 Mt. Increased output will be supported by the completion of a number of expansion projects including Whitehaven Coal’s Werris Creek (an extra 0.5 Mt/year) and Peabody Energy’s Metropolitan mine (an extra 1.5 Mt/year) and the commencement of production at Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek (10.8 Mt/year). This will be partly offset by lower production at Anglo American’s Drayton operations because
of delays in obtaining approval to proceed with developments to extend the life of the mine. Resources at the existing Drayton mine are expected to be exhausted in 2015. Over the medium term, Australia’s thermal coal production is projected to increase at an average rate of 3.6% to 296 Mt. Growth in production is projected to accelerate from 2016–17 as a number of new projects are commissioned