Australian Iron Ore and Coal Exports in 2020

Coal, Iron Ore

Australian iron ore (wet basis) exports fell by 0.5 Mt on the year to 81.8 Mt in December, although still a six-month high, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show. Despite the decline in December, total exports in 2020 were up 34.5 Mt year-on-year at 913.7 Mt, a new annual record.

At 33.6 Mt, Australian coal exports retreated by 3.6 Mt year-on-year in December, owing to an 8.9 Mt annual decline in shipments to China. In a probable sign of cargoes being redirected, the losses were slightly offset by a record monthly high for coal shipments to India (+3.0 Mt to 7.5 Mt), alongside a near two-year high for exports to Japan (+1.1 Mt to 11.1 Mt). Australia exported 370.5 Mt of coal to all destinations in 2020, down 25.2 Mt on the year before.