In an era of global supply chains and offshore production, some of Australia’s largest companies continue to maintain significant manufacturing operations within the country. These enterprises not only contribute substantially to the national economy but also help preserve technical expertise, provide local employment, and ensure greater supply chain resilience. Below are the ten largest Australian companies that manufacture their products domestically.
1. CSL Limited
As Australia’s largest biopharmaceutical company, CSL Limited maintains sophisticated manufacturing facilities in Victoria where it produces plasma-derived therapies, vaccines, and recombinant proteins. With a market capitalization exceeding AUD 100 billion, CSL is one of Australia’s most valuable companies. Its Broadmeadows facility is a critical part of the global supply chain for plasma products and influenza vaccines.
2. BlueScope Steel
BlueScope operates Australia’s largest steel manufacturing facility at Port Kembla, New South Wales. The company produces approximately 3 million tonnes of steel products annually in Australia, supplying the construction, manufacturing, and automotive industries. Their COLORBOND® and ZINCALUME® steel products are iconic Australian building materials manufactured domestically.
3. Amcor
While Amcor has significant global operations, it maintains important manufacturing facilities throughout Australia producing packaging solutions for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care products. The company’s Australian plants produce flexible packaging, rigid containers, and specialty cartons using advanced manufacturing technologies.
4. Incitec Pivot
As a major manufacturer of fertilizers and explosives, Incitec Pivot operates multiple large-scale production facilities across Australia. Its Gibson Island plant in Queensland and Phosphate Hill operations are crucial to Australia’s agricultural sector, producing ammonium phosphates and other key agricultural inputs domestically.
5. Visy Industries
Privately owned by Anthony Pratt and family, Visy is one of Australia’s largest manufacturing companies, specializing in packaging, paper, and recycling. With over 35 manufacturing facilities across Australia, Visy produces packaging materials for the food, beverage, and consumer goods industries while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainability and circular economy principles.
6. Brickworks
With a history spanning more than 85 years, Brickworks is Australia’s largest brick manufacturer. The company operates multiple manufacturing facilities across the country, producing bricks, pavers, and other building products under brands including Austral Bricks and Bristile Roofing. Their manufacturing presence is maintained in all major Australian states.
7. Orica
As the world’s largest provider of commercial explosives and blasting systems, Orica maintains significant manufacturing operations in Australia. Its Kooragang Island facility in New South Wales is one of the company’s largest ammonium nitrate plants globally, serving Australia’s mining and quarrying industries.
8. ResMed
ResMed designs, manufactures, and distributes medical equipment for sleep-disordered breathing and respiratory conditions. While the company has global operations, it maintains important R&D and manufacturing facilities in Sydney, where many of its CPAP devices and masks are produced.
9. Cochlear Limited
As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear designs and manufactures its innovative products at its headquarters in Sydney. The company’s commitment to Australian manufacturing includes advanced clean room facilities where precision medical devices are assembled and tested before distribution to over 180 countries.
10. Dulux Group
Now owned by Nippon Paint, Dulux Group continues to manufacture most of its paints and coatings in Australia. The company’s state-of-the-art water-based paint factory in Melbourne is one of the largest and most environmentally advanced of its kind in Australia, producing millions of liters of paint annually for the domestic and export markets.
Conclusion
These ten companies represent the diversity and strength of Australian manufacturing capabilities. Despite challenges including high operational costs and global competition, they continue to invest in domestic production, recognizing the strategic advantages of manufacturing in Australia. These include proximity to raw materials, quality control, intellectual property protection, and the ability to respond quickly to local market demands.
As Australia looks to strengthen its sovereign manufacturing capabilities in the wake of recent global supply chain disruptions, these companies provide examples of how domestic manufacturing can remain viable and competitive in the 21st century global economy.