CANBERRA: Exports of coal to Taiwan from Gladstone in Queensland, Australia, surged 102% month on month in October to the highest monthly volume since 2012, data from the Gladstone Ports Corporation said Monday. The volume of coal sent from Gladstone to Taiwan were also up 86% year on year at 590,000 mt in October, beating its 12-month rolling average by 107%, the data showed. Coal exports to South Korea fell 3% from September to a 25-month low of 560,000 mt in October, which was down 60% year on year, according to the data. October was the first time in about three years that exports to Taiwan from Gladstone were higher than to South Korea.
Over January to October, South Korea received 17% of Gladstone’s total coal exports of 56.66 million mt, while Taiwan got 5%. But in October, exports to South Korea accounted for 10% of Gladstone’s exports, while exports to Taiwan rose to 11%. Total coal exports from Gladstone in October were 5.37 million mt, down 3% from September and 10% from October 2015. Exports to Japan, Gladstone’s largest recipient of coal, were up 6% from September and 21% year on year at 2.04 million mt. Exports to India continued to slide from an 11-month high in August to 993,000 mt in October, down 19% month on month and 23% year on year.
China imported 873,000 mt of coal from the port in October, down 18% from September and 9% year on year. As many as 15 mines operated by companies including BHP Billiton-Mitsubishi Alliance, Ensham Resources, Jellinbah Resources, Wesfarmers and Yancoal Australia supply coal for export to Gladstone port. The coal shipped from Gladstone in October was sent on 59 ships, up from 57 in September. On Monday, two coal vessels were berthed at the Gladstone port’s RG Tanna Coal Terminal and four at anchor, which compares with an average of three at berth and six at anchor throughout October.
