Newcastle coal exports rise 14% in July

6th Aug 2018

Australian coal exports from the key port of Newcastle rose 14% year on year in July to 10.8m tonnes, as loading disruptions eased, port data showed on Wednesday.

Shipments were 20% higher than in the previous month, as logistical constraints due to vessel congestion, rail maintenance and industrial action subsided.

Port data showed just six vessels waiting to load, compared with around 20 at the start of the month, and 14 at the same time last year.

As congestion eased, the port’s coal inventories declined by 30% over the course of the month, to 1.39m tonnes by 31 July.

Meanwhile, coal exports in the first seven months of the year totalled 63m tonnes, up by 0.5% on the year.

Australia is the world’s second-largest thermal coal exporter after Indonesia.

Source: MONTEL