Exports from major Australian coal terminals increased 5% during the month to 27.55 million metric tons (mt) from about 26.24 million mt in March. Despite the monthly rise, volumes at the largest coal ports were down 15% compared with December before the rain damage when exports peaked at 32.43 million mt.
Coal shipments fell sharply during the first few months of this year after the remnants of a tropical cyclone battered Queensland, the largest coal producing state. Some rail links were shut for parts of February and March after severe flooding from what was the state’s heaviest rainfall in two years, and major producers like Rio Tinto and Yancoal Australia declared force majeure on contracts they were not able to fulfill.
