Australia: Non-coking coal exports rise by 25% m-o-m in Mar’25

• Rising demand from Asian markets propels export surge
• Shipments from Newcastle rise 14% m-o-m, DBCT up 30%

Australia’s non-coking coal exports rose 24.7% to 16.77 million tonnes (mnt) in March 2025, compared to 13.45 mnt in February. Additionally, exports grew 8.3% y-o-y from 15.48 mnt in March 2024. The rise follows increased demand from key Asian markets, particularly Southeast Asia.

Demand across major Asian markets improves

There was a significant rise in exports across major Asian markets. Shipments to Vietnam rose 127% m-o-m to 1.41 mnt, while exports to China saw a marked 67% increase to 5.67 mnt. Additionally, volumes to South Korea increased by 41% m-o-m to 1.17 mnt, to Malaysia by 73% to 0.38 mnt, and to Taiwan by 14% to 1.74 mnt. In contrast, shipments to Japan dropped by 22% m-o-m to 4.47 mnt.

Port-specific export performance

Coal shipments in March 2025 saw an uptrend across most of Australia’s major export terminals. Newcastle reported a 14% m-o-m increase, handling 12.47 million tonnes (mnt). Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) experienced a 30% rise, with exports reaching 0.62 mnt. Gladstone Port saw an impressive 81% jump, to 1.36 mnt. Abbot Point saw a striking 173% surge, to 1.72 mnt, while Brisbane Port experienced a more modest increase of 9.2%, handling 0.36 mnt. In contrast, Port Kembla saw a 15% decrease in shipments to 0.25 mnt

Outlook

Australia’s coal exports are poised for continued growth, fuelled by strong demand from Southeast Asia, while shipments to Japan may face challenges. Key ports such as Newcastle, DBCT, and Gladstone are expected to continue handling higher volumes amid the increase in consumption. The outlook remains positive, though market fluctuations should be monitored.