What factors affect Australia's coking coal exports in Apr except weather?

sxcoal.com Viewpoint,  Price,  Coking Coal 2022-05-18 17:03:25


Australia exported 12.45 million tonnes of coking coal in April, down 5% from the previous month, according to the latest Kpler's cargo-tracking data.


Australia mainly exported coal through five ports last month – Hay Point, Gladstone and Abbot Point, Kembla and Newcastle.


Three of these ports are located in Queensland. According to their respective cargo handling, more than 90% of Australia's coking coal exports came from Queensland. Of that, 55% was exported via Hay Point.


Hay Point port is one of the largest coal export ports in the world and consists of two coal export terminals - Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal and Hay Point Services Coal Terminal.


Kpler's data showed that coking coal exports from Hay Point port were 6.84 million tonnes in April, down 7% from the previous month. During the month, supply was affected as heavy rainfalls flooded mines and infrastructure. Meanwhile, coal miners found it hard to deliver goods due to the adverse weather and the COVID-19-led shortage of labors. As a result, the number of vessels queuing outside the Dalrymple Bay and the Hay Point terminals increased to nearly 40 in April.


In addition, the accident-induced closure of a coal mine owned by Anglo American, a major customer of the Dalrymple Bay coal terminal, also impacted supply.


According to reports, at the end of March, an accident occurred at Anglo American's Moranbah North coal mine in central Queensland, in which a 59-year-old worker died of a serious head injury while working, causing suspension of all mining activities in the mining field. Located in Bowen Basin, Queensland, the mine mainly produces hard coking coal.


This, coupled with the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Anglo American has lowered its 2022 coking coal export target from 20-22 million tonnes to 17-19 million tonnes.


In April, Australia's coking coal exports overall decreased by 5% month on month. Industry analysts believe that this can also be attributed to high prices and the reduction of panic purchases caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.


Although the price in April has fallen significantly from the previous record level of $670/t, it remained at a high position.


On April 29, the FOB price of Peak Downs coking coal was $518.0/t, and that of mid-volatile premium coking coal in Australia was $481.5/t. The former soared by 376% over the same period last year, while the latter surged 364%. High coal prices have weakened buyers' willingness to purchase to a certain extent.


As the Russia-Ukraine conflicts remain in a stalemate and tend to develop into a protracted matter, the panic purchasing sentiment in the market has weakened. More than one end user was reselling goods and some buyers shifted to a wait-and-see attitude due to the high volatility of the market.


For the short-term outlook, some coal miners may increase production in May-June in order to achieve their annual goals, and demand from major buyers such as India and Japan is expected to remain firm as Australian coal supplies increase.


However, market participants expect that Australia's coking coal exports in May would be constrained by weather factors, with a risk for further decline.



(Writing by Emma Yang  Editing by Tammy Yang)
For any questions, please contact us by inquiry@fwenergy.com or +86-351-7219322.

Share this article
Connect with us

Editor's Pick

1 Mongolian coking coal e-auction trading volumes decline, reflecting weak demand 2024-03-29

Mongolia witnessed its coking coal trades through e-auctions lost strength in March, with the volume notching a new low since August 2023, according to data compiled by Sxcoal based on the trading inf

2 Weekly China coal market news summary (Mar 25-Mar 29) 2024-03-29

China's domestic thermal coal prices slide on growing bearish sentimentChina's portside thermal coal prices continued the moderate decline on March 28, owing to an excess of supply coupled with weaken

3 Weekly global coal market news summary (Mar 25-Mar 29) 2024-03-29

Newcastle thermal coal prices soar as India, Vietnam ramp up importsNewcastle thermal coal futures extended the uptick for three consecutive trading days, driven by increased imports from India and Vi

4 Germany's hard coal imports fall 25.8% on yr 2024-03-29

Germany imported 2.40 million tonnes of hard coal in January 2024, falling 25.80% from the year-ago level, according to preliminary data from German Statistics Bureau.The imports, however, were 8.33%

5 Vietnam Feb coal output hit 5-yr low 2024-03-29

Vietnam's coal production in February fell substantially to a new low since March 2019, latest customs data showed.The country produced 3.03 million tonnes of coal in February, slumping 21.23% from 3.

6 Yankuang Energy 2023 net profit down 39.62% YoY to 20.14 bln yuan 2024-03-29

Yankuang Energy Group Co., Ltd., a major state-owned mining group in China, earned a net profit of 20.14 billion yuan ($2.79 billion) in 2023, slumping 39.62% from last year, according to the company'

7 China futures market updates at close (Mar 29) 2024-03-29

Check out latest updates on the Chinese futures market for coking coal, coke, iron ore and others at close.

8 China Coal Daily Track (Mar 29) 2024-03-29

Thermal coalProduction area Thermal coal prices edged up in major producing regions, with some grades rising 5-10 yuan/t. This was mainly attributed to a periodical wave of restocking activity, leadin

9 CISA proposes steel mills to reduce production amid supply-demand imbalance 2024-03-29

China Iron and Steel Association (CISA) called for production controls at steel mills in response to a lacklustre steel market characterized by high output, cost and stocks yet low demand, prices and

10 China's major coal power producer returns to profit, yet challenges persist 2024-03-29

Huaneng Power International, Inc., one of leading listed coal-fired power producers in China, recorded a profit last year after losing money for two years.In 2023, the company recorded operating reven

Most Read Articles

1 China futures market updates at close (Mar 26) 2024-03-26

Check out latest updates on the Chinese futures market for coking coal, coke, iron ore and others at close.

2 Shanxi faces economic pressure as coal production and sales slump 2024-03-26

Northern China's Shanxi province is grappling with economic challenges in the first quarter of this year, as its pivotal coal industry experiences a notable decline in production and sales.At a govern

3 Mongolian coking coal prices in mixed trends; China's market improves 2024-03-26

Mongolian coking coal prices posted mixed trends at the border crossing Ganqimaodu on the China's side, a price pattern different from previously continuous downturn, as demand from Chinese buyers par

4 Inner Mongolia sets slightly higher coal output target in 2024 2024-03-28

Northern China's Inner Mongolia aims to produce 1.22 billion tonnes or so of coal this year, said Inner Mongolia's energy bureau.To achieve this target, the region plans to keep the total production c

5 Japan Feb crude steel output down 3.8% MoM 2024-03-27

Japan produced 6.99 million tonnes of crude steel in February, falling 3.8% month on month (MoM) yet up 1.1% year on year (YoY), according to data released by the Japan Iron and Steel Federation.The o

6 China met coal market in figures (Mar 28) 2024-03-28

China coking coal, met coke and steel market key figures in focus.

7 China's coal mining and washing industry profits down 36.8% YoY in Jan-Feb 2024-03-28

Profits in China's coal mining and washing industry totaled 95.48 billion yuan ($13.2 billion) in January-February, down 36.8% from a year earlier, according to data from the National Bureau of Statis

8 China Coal Daily Track (Mar 26) 2024-03-26

Thermal coalProduction area Mine-mouth thermal coal prices were mixed. More coal trucks were arriving at mines with premium grades, pushing up prices by 5-10 yuan/t. But these mines saw no queues of t

9 Newcastle coal prices rebound on Vietnam's buying spree, Baltimore bridge collapse 2024-03-27

Newcastle thermal coal futures continued to strengthen in the first two trading days of this week, driven by strong purchases from Vietnam, and the bridge collapse in Baltimore that added to supply co

10 India's coal production surpasses 1 Bt, imports decline 2024-03-28

India has achieved a significant milestone in its coal and lignite production, surpassing one billion tonnes by March 22, marking a 25-day improvement compared to the previous fiscal year, according t