Australian Iron Ore Exports Rise in December

Coal, Iron Ore

Australian iron ore (wet basis) exports gained by 2.6 Mt on the year to 82.1 Mt in December, a two-year high, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A strong performance in the final month brought 2019 exports to 879.2 Mt, slightly higher than 878.2 Mt in 2018.

Exports to China rose by 10.5 Mt year-on-year to 724.1 Mt last year, following an annual decline of 9.6 Mt in 2018.

Australian coal exports also gained by 8.5 Mt from 2018 to 394.8 Mt in 2019, of which coking coal accounted for 183.0 Mt or 46% of the total.