Commodity prices generally rose somewhat after the very large falls in late 2008. But of significance for Australia, prices for those resources which serve as the raw materials for steel production in particular have been exceptionally strong. Prices for iron ore and coal rebounded very sharply during 2009 and early 2010.
Contract prices for iron ore in the  BIS Review 78/2010  1  current period are double those of a year ago; until recently spot prices were well above even that level though they have retreated somewhat of late.