Port of Newcastle coal exports fall in 2015

Port of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal export port, saw coal exports fall 0.6% y/y to 158.1 million t in 2015, reflecting current market conditions. Coal accounts for 96.5% of trade through Newcastle with most of this – some 45% - heading to Japan.

Non-coal trade was up 9% at 5.8 million t with growth recorded in fuels, fertilizer and alumina imports, as well as meals and grains, concentrates and steel exports. Yet this was not enough to offset the fall in coal throughput with the port’s total throughput down 0.3% (417 406 t) at 163.9 million t.

Overall, the value of trade through Newcastle totaled AUS$17 846.3 billion, with exports accounting for AUS$15 723.4 billion and imports valued at AUS$2122.9 billion.

The coal export trade alone was valued at AUS$14 122.2 billion and accounted for 1704 of the 2159 non-cruise vessel visits in 2015. In addition to Japan, coal from Newcastle was exported to South Korea (20%), Chine (13%) and Taiwan (11%) with other minor destinations including India, Malaysia, Mexico and the Pacific archipelago, New Caledonia.

Edited by Jonathan Rowland.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/handling/14012016/port-of-newcastle-coal-exports-fall-in-2015-2016-46/