Since 2001 coal exports from NSW have increased from 75 million tonnes to more than 164Mt - an increase of more than 118%, according to the Coal Services data.

 

Over the past five years export volumes have consistently been at or near record levels, with the highest level recorded in 2014 at 172Mt.

 

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said the most recent Coal Services figures showed that for the 2018 calendar year total coal exports from NSW were 164.6Mt, with thermal coal exports used for electricity generation growing 1.6Mt.

 

"Coal is our state's most valuable export so it's great for the NSW economy that demand for our high quality resources remains strong," he said.  

 

"The strong global demand for our high quality coal is being driven by growing energy demand as well as trends in industrialisation and urbanisation in our region.

 

"NSW thermal coal is being used by countries in our region to lock in reliable and affordable electricity with new coal-fired power plants that can provide low-emissions coal fired power. Our coking coal is also in demand for its role in the production of the steel needed to help drive economic development and growth.

 

"These economic trends in our region are expected to underpin strong demand for our NSW export coal well into the future."

 

Under the independent International Energy Agency's New Policies Scenario, which incorporates policy commitments made by countries under the Paris Agreement, global growth in coal demand is expected to remain steady, while growth in demand for coal in the Asia Pacific region expected to more than double by 2040.

 

"If we get the policy settings right here in NSW, our economy can continue to benefit from investment and jobs in NSW while at the same time contributing to economic development and greater opportunity across our region and around the world ," Galilee said.