Australia: Yancoal’s ROM coal output surges by 17% q-o-q in Q2CY’26 as mining activity rebounds

The higher output was expected, as most open-cut mines completed overburden removal in the first quarter and shifted back to coal mining. This helped Yancoal achieve its highest-ever quarterly attributable coal production and remain on track to deliver production in the upper half of its 2026 guidance.

Yancoal’s CEO Sharif Burra said, “The company is on track for record 2026 production, supported by strong operational performance and the strategic acquisition of an 80% stake in the Kestrel Coal Mine, while remaining confident in its competitive position amid robust coal market fundamentals and supporting employees through the planned Ashton mine closure.”

Mining performance improves across most operations

Moolarben recorded a strong quarter, with both its open-cut and underground mines operating at or above target. Higher mining rates improved coal processing, lifting saleable coal production by 23% from the previous quarter despite some wet weather towards the end of the period.

Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW) also delivered a solid performance. Favourable operating conditions and better equipment reliability helped increase saleable coal production by 34% compared with the previous quarter.

Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) maintained steady production during the quarter. Better equipment reliability, higher fleet utilisation and improvements to haul road efficiency helped the mine keep output in line with the previous quarter.

Yarrabee recorded the strongest sequential growth, with saleable coal production rising by 75%. Longer equipment operating hours and improved waste dumping practices supported production, although unplanned maintenance at the coal handling plant limited some output.

Middlemount performed largely in line with expectations. Wet weather caused occasional delays, but these were offset by strong mining activity, keeping production close to the previous quarter.

Ashton was the only operation to report weaker performance. Challenging mining conditions slowed longwall operations, resulting in lower coal processing rates and a 20% decline in saleable coal production from the previous quarter.

Demand remained mixed across key markets. China imported more coal following temporary supply disruptions at domestic mines, while India’s imports remained weak due to comfortable domestic supply and healthy stock levels. Demand improved in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam as higher LNG prices encouraged greater coal-fired power generation. On the supply side, Australian exports remained strong, while Indonesian exports declined because of policy uncertainty and delays in production approvals.

Expansion projects continue alongside Kestrel acquisition

Yancoal continued to progress several growth projects during the quarter. Studies for the MTW underground project are ongoing and could extend the mine’s life without increasing annual production. The HVO mine-life extension is moving through the approval process, while the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project could add 30 mnt of ROM coal if approved. The company also spent AUD 0.98 million on exploration across HVO, Moolarben and Middlemount.

The company also continued work on acquiring an 80% stake in Kestrel coal mine for $1.85 billion, which will increase its exposure to metallurgical coal. In addition, Yancoal confirmed that mining at Ashton will cease from early 2028 because of technical, geological, and economic challenges.

Outlook

Yancoal expects production to remain strong in the coming quarters as mining operations return to normal levels. The company has maintained its 2026 production guidance of 36.5-40.5 mnt and expects output to be in the upper half of the range. Although diesel costs remain elevated, price pressure has eased. Higher production, firmer coal prices, and the planned Kestrel acquisition are expected to support the company’s performance through the remainder of 2026.