Australia: Non-Coking Coal Exports Down 6% M-o-M in Apr’17

Australian Non-Coking Coal exports have decreased on a monthly basis. Total Non-Coking coal exports stood at 14.04 MnT in Apr’17, down by 6% M-o-M, against 14.89 MnT exported during Mar’17, according to the vessel Line-up data maintained by CoalMint Research.

Australian Non-Coking Coal Prices:
Coal prices soared during the month of Apr’17, owing to the disruption caused by the Debbie Cyclone which hit Queensland region of Australia in late March.

Thermal coal Price index rose by 8% M-o-M to USD 90 in Apr’17 compared with USD 83.5 in Mar’17.
However, Coal supply from Australia has been regulated after the cyclone effect as a result; Thermal coal index has come down to USD 83 in May’17.

Major Non-Coking Coal Export Destinations:
Japan remained the major coal receiver from Australia in Apr’17, followed by China, Taiwan, Korea and India.

Japan imported 4.85 MnT coal in Apr’17, imports fell by 27% M-o-M compared with 6.66 MnT in Mar’17.

China, second-largest coal importer, witnessed a growth in their monthly coal imports by 44% M-o-M to 2.98 MnT in Apr’17.

Taiwan, third-largest coal importer also followed the similar trend, with imports increasing by 30% M-o-M to 2.31 MnT in Apr’17.

Major Non-Coking Discharging Ports:
Newcastle Port is the major port for handling Non-Coking coal exports from Australia. Port Kemble handled remaining coal shipments in Apr’17.

The two ports were operational during the period in which the severe cyclone had halted operations in other major ports in Australia. However, increased coal prices as a result of the aftermath of the cyclone, caused fall in exports from both these ports.

Export from Newcastle fell 5% M-o-M to 14.41 MnT, while exports from Port Kemble fell by 22% during the month.

Source: CoalMint Research
Quantities in MnT