Open-cut production accounted for 11.616Mt while underground accounted for 2.253Mt. The total is slightly lower than the May 2002 production of 13.502Mt. Open-cut production is higher than a year ago while underground production is almost 500,000t down on a year ago.

Of the total May 2003 production, coking coal exports totalled 10.367Mt with thermal exports making up 2.888Mt. Some 2.092Mt were used within the state of Queensland for electricity generation and for cement/concrete products.

Some 10,684 people were employed at Queensland’s coal mines, both open-cut and underground, during May 2003. Year on year the figure has increased, from 8,356 in May 2001, to 10,355 in May 2002.

Some 2,551 were employed in the underground sector.

Coal exported through Dalrymple Bay amounted to 3.480Mt, followed by Hay Point 3.081Mt, Gladstone 2.606Mt, Abbot Point 821,702t and Brisbane 377,780t.

Of total exports, Japan received the bulk taking 3.576Mt, followed by Korea which received 1.529Mt and India 1.207Mt.