26 October 2015

Demand for Australia’s high quality thermal coal continues.

A new report by the International Energy Agency confirms that in 2014 Australia returned to fourth position in the ranking of the world’s largest coal producers after China, the United States and India. This is set to continue according to analysis by CRU Group.

During the period 2011 to 2013, Indonesia was the fourth largest producer. However, its production has the lowest average energy content of the major seaborne producing countries.  This year demand for lower quality seaborne thermal coal from China diminished and growth in Indian demand has been for higher energy coal. Indonesian miners have suffered the largest drop in demand for their product with the outlook for Australian coal expected to be maintained year on year.

Indonesia continues to be the world’s largest coal exporter followed by Australia. The Australian government’s commodity forecaster expects Australia to be the leading exporter again by 2017.

Source – Minerals Council of Australia

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