Australia increased exports of coking coal by 6% m/m in May

Exports of coking coal from Australia in May 2026 rose by 6% compared with April, reaching 13.2 million tonnes; year-on-year growth stood at 20%. For the period January–May, exports rose by 4% year-on-year – to 59.1 million tonnes. This is reported by BigMint.

The growth in May was driven by increased purchases from Asian countries, improved cargo availability and the smooth operation of ports following previous disruptions.

Trends among the main buyers of Australian coking coal are mixed due to the varying state of their stocks and markets:

• India: imports in May fell by 46% month-on-month (to 1.8 million tonnes) and by 52% year-on-year due to higher-priced imported coal, sufficient stockpiles and a fall in domestic steel prices.
• Japan: imports rose by 17% month-on-month (to 2.5 million tonnes) thanks to stable production and planned restocking.
• South Korea: purchases fell by 24% month-on-month (to 1.35 million tonnes) and by 15% year-on-year due to low profitability among steelmakers.
• China: Imports from Australia soared by 114% month-on-month (to 1.48 million tonnes) and by 77% year-on-year amid of high demand and favourable prices for Australian raw materials.
• Vietnam: imports rose by 31% month-on-month (to 1.2 million tonnes) and by 48% year-on-year, thanks to a buoyant industry and the reliability of Australian supplies.

Prices for Australian premium coking coal rose by $5/t in April and by $6/t in May 2026. This was driven by limited spot supply and a shortage of vessels due to geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran.

Looking ahead, exports from Australia will be supported by stable demand in China, Japan and Vietnam, as well as capacity expansion in South-East Asia. Prices will remain firm due to limited cargo availability, although low margins for steelmakers in India and South Korea may curb further growth in demand.

It should be noted that in April, Australia increased its coking coal exports by 11% compared to the previous month, reaching 12.5 million tonnes. On an annual basis, growth stood at 20%.