The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, which released the data, reported that during the September 2003 quarter, saleable coal production and sales increased in comparison with the same period in 2002. The main contributor was the Hail Creek mine, operated by Pacific Coal, which came into production this quarter.

A total of 39.268Mt were produced, up 8.17% when compared to the September 2002 quarter. Of the total, longwall mines produced 5.972Mt and opencut operations 33.213Mt. Longwall output is almost the same as last year’s September quarter while opencut output is 3Mt more.

Exports from Queensland for the September 2003 quarter increased 1.646Mt or 5.25% to 32.964Mt. During this quarter, there were increased tonnages exported through the ports of Abbot Point, Gladstone and Hay Point, while there were slight decreases in the amount of coal exported through Brisbane and Dalrymple Bay.

At September 30, 2003 employment in the Queensland coal industry was 11,120 positions compared to 10,665 positions a year ago, up 4.27%. Productivity for the September 2003 quarter decreased by 7.98% from an average of 53.20 tonnes per shift for the September 2002 quarter to 48.95 tonnes per shift in the September 2003 quarter.

Coal stocks were 9.431Mt at September 30, 2003 representing 22 days supply, compared to 8.618Mt or 21 days supply at September 30, 2002.

Output for the month of September 2003 was a total 13.078Mt, of which underground mines produced 2.161Mt. Some 7.209Mt of coking coal were exported, up on the 6.689Mt in September 2002. Thermal coal exports totalled 4.104Mt, also up on the same period last year.