Editor profile

Alistair Vance

Senior Editor, Mining & Natural Resources

Alistair Vance investigates Australia's critical minerals sector, from iron ore to lithium exports. He monitors the intersection of mining innovation and global resource demand.

alistair.vance@ausbizdaily.com

Bylined articles

Asia Pacific Trade

Global shipping logistics market to reach $13.9 trillion by 2035: New opportunities and challenges for Australian resource exports and supply chains

The global shipping logistics market is expected to reach $13.9 trillion by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.9%. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for 39% of demand. As a major resource exporter and a trade hub in the Asia-Pacific, Australia’s port efficiency, logistics digitalization, and green transformation will profoundly impact the competitiveness of the mining industry and international trade. This article provides an in-depth analysis of market trends, industry impacts, and investment opportunities from the perspective of Australian business and resource economics.

Alistair Vance4 min read
Energy Infrastructure

Lessons from Vietnam's Rooftop Solar Projects: How Australian Renewable Energy Companies Can Seize Opportunities in Southeast Asia

Constant Energy has completed a 928.75 kWp rooftop solar project in Vietnam to supply power to mining company Phenikaa Hue. This move underscores the trend of industrial decarbonization in Southeast Asia, creating new business opportunities for Australian renewable energy companies, equipment exporters, and mining firms. This article analyzes the commercial significance of the project, its industrial impact, and Australia's role in the Asia-Pacific energy transition.

Alistair Vance5 min read
Asia Pacific Trade

Asia-Pacific agricultural gateway market to reach $2.5 billion by 2035: Australian agri-tech companies face new opportunities

According to the latest report from Global Market Insights, the Asia-Pacific agricultural gateway market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5%, reaching a scale of $2.5 billion by 2035. As a leader in agricultural technology in the Asia-Pacific region, Australia's precision agriculture and IoT solution companies will benefit from the growth in regional digitalization demand.

Alistair Vance5 min read
Asia Pacific Trade

Australia's resource export outlook strengthened: despite trade headwinds, revenue forecast for 2025-26 raised to A$405 billion

The latest *Resources and Energy Quarterly Report* from Australia's Department of Industry, Science and Resources has raised its export revenue forecast to A$405 billion in 2025-26, driven by AI investment, the energy transition, and supply chain security needs. Iron ore remains the largest export, while gold has risen to second place.

Alistair Vance6 min read
Energy Infrastructure

UK's 400 MW battery storage project approved: Implications for renewable energy investment in Australia

Revera Energy has made a final investment decision on the 400 MW battery energy storage project at Hunterston in Scotland, which is one of the largest energy storage portfolios in the UK. This article analyzes the project's significance for the global energy storage market, as well as its reference value for renewable energy and infrastructure investment in Australia.

Alistair Vance4 min read
Tech Innovation

NAB leverages Databricks Genie AI tool to drive data value mining in banking

The National Australia Bank (NAB) leverages Databricks' Genie AI tool to accelerate data analysis and customer experience optimization through natural language queries and data democratization, setting a new benchmark for AI applications in banking.

Alistair Vance4 min read
Asia Pacific Trade

Strong El Niño strikes: Australian agriculture faces severe test, export and economic risks rise.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has announced a strong El Niño event in the tropical Pacific, posing significant risks to agriculture, exports, and the overall economy. This article analyzes the impact of El Niño on Australian agriculture, pressure on the supply chain, potential changes in trade and investment, and explores response strategies.

Alistair Vance5 min read
Energy Infrastructure

Why Australia’s Solar Buildout Must Now Be Designed for Extreme Weather

Extreme weather is reshaping the logic of solar project design, construction, and operations and maintenance. For Australia, this is not only about the pace of renewable energy expansion, but also about investment returns, grid connection reliability, and infrastructure resilience.

Alistair Vance7 min read
Asia Pacific Trade

A new agenda for the Quad security dialogue: how ports, subsea cables, and critical minerals are reshaping Australia’s business landscape

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue has placed ports, undersea cables, and critical minerals in a more prominent position, showing that Indo-Pacific competition is extending from the military realm into trade, infrastructure, and resource security. For Australia, this is not only a matter of geopolitics, but it also affects mining, shipping, digital infrastructure, and the flow of regional investment.

Alistair Vance8 min read