Total exports from key Queensland, Australia metallurgical coal ports —Hay Point, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT), Abbot Point, and Gladstone— rose by 8.5% month-on-month, although there was a decrease of 4.4% compared to the same month the previous year, reaching 17.05 million metric tons. This data was provided to SteelOrbis by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation and Gladstone Ports Corporation.
Breaking down the contributions from each port:
- Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal (DBCT) reported a modest increase of 0.6% year-on-year in exports, totaling 4.97 million metric tons.
- Hay Point witnessed a significant reduction in exports by 28.5% year-on-year, amounting to 3.40 million metric tons.
- Abbot Point’s exports declined by 12.2% year-on-year to 2.79 million metric tons.
- Gladstone Port, however, saw a robust increase in its exports by 18.6% compared to the previous year, with a total of 5.89 million metric tons exported in May.
The distribution of exports to major destinations included Japan, which received 27.9% of the total exports. It was followed by India with 18.2%, South Korea with 17.4%, and China with 16.8%.
From January to May 2024, the cumulative exports from these ports amounted to 80.53 million metric tons, indicating a substantial movement in coal shipments from the region despite the month-to-month volatility.
This data reflects the dynamic nature of coal exports from Queensland and highlights the ongoing demand from major Asian economies for Australian coal. The varying export figures from the different ports also underscore the impact of global market conditions and operational issues on export capacities.
