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He said while coal exports increased 15.3% in March, they were down a similar amount on last year, which was an indication of some of the challenges the COVID-19 had forced on the sector.
"A decline in steel manufacturing in countries such asd India and Japan has seen demand for our metallurgical coal fall but it should begin to recover as the global economy shifts back into gear," Pitt said.
"The next three months will bring some challenges but it is clear that resources and energy exports will be a key driver of our post COVID-19 recovery."
Total resources and energy exports increased 2% in the first quarter compared to the same period last year and were valued at $68.9 billion.
"These figures show how important the resources sector is to our economy and resilient it's been in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic," Pitt said.
