Export earnings from coking coal was up 27% to $6.60 billion while steaming coal was up by 35% to $4.20 billion. This compared with the previous years figures of $5.2 billion and $3.1 billion, respectively. Figures for the June 2001 quarter recorded earnings of $1.9 billion from coking coal and $1.2 billion from steaming coal.

ABARE's executive director Brian Fisher said the record overall export earnings "reflected significantly higher export prices and volumes for the majority of minerals and energy commodities".