The fall in production registered almost 500,000 tonnes from the previous year’s month, whilst underground output for the first six months of the year to July recorded 15 million tonnes, down from 17.6 million in 2002.

Overall coking coal exports for July 2003 jumped to 7.2 million bringing total coke exports for the first six months of 2003 to almost 53 million.

Thermal coal exports remained relatively steady compared to 2002 at 3.7 million, with the first six months of 2003 clocking up almost 25 million tonnes.

Dalrymple Bay port lead the pack in highest export tonnage at more than 4 million tonnes during July, closely followed by Gladstone with 3.5 million tonnes and Hay Point with 2.3 million tonnes.