Coal exports from Port of Newcastle strong despite China’s ban on Australian coal

While Australian coal remains off limits in China, the trade tensions have barely dented overall export figures from Australia’s largest coal terminal, with producers finding other international markets.

China usually accounts for 20 per cent of exports from the Port of Newcastle, and when coal ships stopped leaving for China in November, it raised the prospect of a shortfall in demand.

Yet, overall export figures for December show only a 3 per cent decline on the previous year.

A total of 14.9 million…