Australia's Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) terminals in Newcastle, New South Wales, concluded 2023 with a surge in coal shipments, surpassing the figures from the previous year. The year-end report reveals that in December alone, PWCS terminals shipped a total of 9.93 million metric tons (t), marking a substantial increase from 8.8 million t in November and 8.74 million t in December 2022.
For the entire year of 2023, PWCS achieved a total coal shipment of 95.51 million t, showcasing an upward trajectory compared to the 91.89 million t recorded in 2022. However, these figures fall short of the record-breaking 111.33 million t shipped in 2021.
The peak in PWCS coal exports during 2021 was attributed to global factors, including the war in Ukraine and severe flooding. In contrast, the early part of 2023 experienced production constraints due to flood recovery efforts. Notably, December emerged as the strongest month in terms of throughput since January 2022. The presence of a lengthy shipping queue hints at the possibility of increased exports in January, traditionally a robust month for the port.
Chinese demand for PWCS coal remained steadfast in December, though exports to China dipped compared to the previous month and the record high seen in October. While the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG) has not released specific data for its terminal in Newcastle, preliminary shipping information indicates a robust conclusion to the year. NCIG surpassed its decade-low coal shipment of 136 million t in 2022 by at least 10 million t, though falling short of the remarkable 156 million t shipped in 2021.
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