Australian coal shipments on the rise

Australia’s Dalrymple Bay coal shipments reached a nine-month high in September, largely thanks to a spell of drier weather in the area. Queensland’s Bowen Basin coking coal production region saw a 3% month-on-month increase in the terminal’s coal exports to 5.93 million t on 54 ships in September and the highest monthly exports level since December 2012.

A source close to the Australian terminal commented: “For the most part, all of the cargoes the terminal has needed were assembled on time, which reflects the drier weather the Bowen Basin has been having.”

Drier weather means Bowen Basin coal mines have been able to assemble cargoes for ships arriving at the terminal, and on Tuesday coal was available from mines for all 29 ships in the terminal vessel queue.

Shipping destinations

The main destinations for Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal’s (DBCT) coal exports are China, India, Japan, South Korea and Europe, according to terminal shipping data.

China has averaged coal shipments of 1.46 million tpm so far in 2013 from DBCT while Japan has averaged 1.15 million tpm, South Korea 876,300 tpm, and India 594,170 tpm. European countries combined have averaged 552,000 tpm.

At its full operating capacity of 85 million tpy, Dalrymple Bay terminal can load between 70 and 75 ships each month. Shipments totalled 6.56 million t in December 2012, setting a monthly exports record that still stands.

Weather preparation

"For this calendar year, the expectation is the terminal will ship between 55 and 67 million t depending on the weather and vessel demand," said the terminal source.

Preparations are being laid at the terminal for the upcoming tropical cyclone season, which can affect the Queensland coastline between the months of November and April each year.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/08102013/australian_coal_shipments_on_the_rise_107/