Australia miners sidestep China's coal ban

摘要

The value of Australia's coal exports rose 26% in December 2020 over the previous month as miners worked around Chinas trading bans and thermal prices rose. At the end of January, some 80 bulkers remained anchored off Chinese ports as the PRC government continued its unofficial geopolitical boycott of Australian coal, along with other commodities including beef, barley and seafood. The coal remained stranded despite reports of a national shortage of thermal coal for power generation during a harsh winter. Chinese buyers reportedly were either forbidden to resell the coal or reluctant to do so for fear of government reaction.