Friday, January 16, 2009

BHP-Mitsubishi Coal Exports Down 20 Percent

The BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, the world’s largest coking coal exporter, shipped 20 percent less of the fuel from its largest Australian port at Hay Point, Queensland last month amid a slump in demand for the steelmaking material.

Shipments fell to 2.58 million metric tons in December, down from 3.23 million tons a year earlier, according to the Ports Corp. of Queensland’s Web site.

The port, owned and operated by an alliance between BHP Billiton Ltd. and Mitsubishi Corp., is located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Mackay.

Exports in the three months ended Dec. 31 declined 19 percent to 8.31 million tons, from 10.24 million tons a year earlier. Hay Point, which has a capacity of 44 million tons a year, exported 36.91 million tons of coal in the year ended June 30.

Source: Bloomberg

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