Exports of coal from Gladstone in Queensland, Australia, totaled 6.14 million mt in May, down 2% year on year but up 44% from April and the highest for any month so far in 2017, data from the Gladstone Ports Corporation showed Tuesday.
The total compares with 6.26 million mt shipped in the year-ago month and April's multi-year low of 4.27 million mt, notched due to cyclone-damaged transport infrastructure that hampered coal logistics that month.
Exports to Japan rose to a 17-month high in May at 2.42 million mt, up 8% from 2.23 million mt a year earlier and 180% higher than April's 863,000 mt.
South Korea also saw more coal than usual heading its way from Gladstone, with a 14-month high in May of 1.11 million mt, up 58% year on year from 703,000 mt and 42% higher than the 786,000 mt shipped in April, the data showed.
Gladstone's other key export destinations -- China, India and Taiwan -- all saw year-on-year declines in export volumes last month.
Volumes to China sank 32% to 738,000 mt from 1.09 million mt in May 2016, and fell 11% from 829,000 mt in April. It was the smallest monthly volume in 13 months, GPC said.
Exports to India totaled 1.25 million mt in May, down 7% from 1.34 million mt a year earlier but up 12% from April's 1.11 million mt.
Shipments to Taiwan plunged to 158,000 mt, down 59% from 387,000 mt in May last year and 39% lower than April's 261,000 mt, it said.
Some 70% of coal handled at the port is metallurgical and the rest is thermal, GPC says.
