Leading this growth was the state’s petroleum and iron ore industries, which grew 32% and 56% respectively. This was due to a surging demand in China, which increased exports, the DoIR said.

Chamber of Minerals Energy chief executive Tim Shanahan said the new figures were in line with its predictions that the resources sector was likely to grow between 50% and 75% by 2015.

Shanahan said this would ensure that industry remained the key driver of the Western Australian economy.

He also said it was important to allow the state’s potential or planned projects to come on-stream as quickly as possible to take advantage of current market conditions.