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Procurement in the mining industry has the power to add or destroy value for companies, shape communities and impact all industry stakeholders. However, getting it right is very challenging – we live in uncertain times where international supply chains are shifting and risks abound.
Axis Group International has supported mining projects and operations for over 20 years, and we share insights on how procurement and supply can be a strategic value driver for mining companies around the world.
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The global mining industry is massive. In 2023, the global mining market size was USD 2.14tn, having recovered from around USD 1.4tn in 2020 after being hit by Covid-19. A few facts and figures easily illustrate the scale of this vital sector in the global economy:
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Big mining implies big spend. While the world’s top 40 mining companies are estimated to spend USD 80bn on CAPEX projects in 2023, a deeper dive into the spend of the top 20 mining companies reveals they increased their CAPEX spend by 12.8% in 2022 and are expected to grow it further by 11.6% this year. Overall, the mining industry’s ongoing procurement spend amounts to around USD 200bn annually. This number is expected to grow as the world further transitions past the challenges brought on by the pandemic.
In recent years, mining operations have faced numerous supply chain disruptions due to factors such as Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict resulting in instability in receiving essential supplies. This, in turn, affected various global CAPEX projects and led the mining industry’s output to tumble with lower exploration budgets. This also caused scarcity of key transition metals such as copper. These factors have affected overall spend in the industry; however, this has now recovered as markets have reopened.
The global exploration budget of non-ferrous metals increased by 16% to reach a nine-year high of USD 13bn in 2022, mainly due to the necessity of finding new copper and other materials as reserves are depleting. Other factors include the rising need of finding more energy transition metals such as lithium. The demand for copper is expected to rise threefold by 2040 while demand for cobalt is expected to increase 20 times during the same period. Countries rich in these transition metals such as those in Africa and Australia have seen an increase in exploration budgets and investments – therefore, mining procurement spend will continue to grow.
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It is not just about the scale of mining spend. Mining spend can have both positive impacts and negative consequences in various areas, with this industry playing a vital role in many countries and industries. Therefore, procurement must incorporate an array of competing interests, e.g., cost reduction vs better quality; local vs global; etc.
Depending on where and when it is spent, it can both create as well as destroy value in mining projects. The efficiency and effectiveness of procurement may considerably raise or lower CAPEX and OPEX expenses during the lifetime of a project or operations.
There is a significant potential in mining having a positive impact on society at large, such as the creation of jobs directly or indirectly in local communities. However, there is the potential for mining spend to have negative impact on these communities as well, such as through the effects on the local environment if proper efforts are not made to deliver a sustainable project. Also, the trade-off between local and global procurement must be carefully balanced. Mining companies act and compete globally, but their operations are always ‘local’. This means that there is the need to balance social factors and community interest with economic considerations such as cost reduction. Not an easy challenge to meet.
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Effective global procurement in the mining industry is not a simple endeavour and there are various factors to get right throughout the process. Moreover, many procurement ideas and approaches that ‘live on’ are dated and were developed in a previous world – e.g., before globalisation reached its current levels, before ESG became a strategic imperative; and, before new global supply markets rose to prominence.
Striking a proper balance in local vs global sourcing is crucial, as while localisation needs to be protected, the efficiency and cost effectiveness of global supply chains need to be leveraged as well. Hiring the right people, keeping them motivated, and retaining them is essential to ensure operations are supported by the right talent. Proper investment in developing the right capabilities and choosing the best partners must be made.
Operating models need to be planned, designed, and readjusted to achieve the best results. Mining companies must have the right ‘inward’ orientation, such as having good strategy, goals, spend data, and process. But must also have the right ‘outward’ orientation and gather sufficient market intelligence in order to appreciate the right global supply markets and key strategic global categories of importance.
Getting all of the above right will help to determine who the winners and losers will be in the mining industry. What is clear is that in the coming decade, procurement and supply should be a top priority for mining industry procurement managers and teams given the risks and challenges in global supply chains.
The global mining industry will remain a large contributor to global value chains, and mining procurement spend will only increase in the coming years. As such, we need to understand the impact and consequences of procurement spend in this dynamic industry. When done effectively, procurement is a powerful lever for driving value in the mining industry that can reduce cost, manage quality, expedite schedules, mitigate risk, and ensure important ESG compliance across the supply chain. Good leadership, strategy and implementation will lead the way.
Axis Group International has supported mining projects and operations worldwide for over 20 years. Our solutions are truly integrated and span the entire international value chain from source to final supply – including analytics, sourcing, procurement, supplier performance management, quality management, inspection, expediting and logistics.
If your project or operations are challenged by unacceptably high costs, extended lead times or risk, we can help. Reach out to Axis Group International in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, or the Americas at solve@axisgroup-international.com, or call +61 483 386 118.