SAirborne coal shipments from Australia find new destinations, as China’s share shrinks during the first quarter of 2026. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Panchero Costa said that “in January-March 2026, global seaborne coal shipments fell -1.7% year-on-year to 303.9 million tons (excluding coastal shipping), based on vessel tracking data from AXS Marine. In January-March 2026, exports declined From Indonesia, it increased by -5.8% year-on-year to 109.9 million tons, while from Australia, it increased by +1.6%. On an annual basis to 78.0 million tons. Exports from Russia increased by +1.4% y/y to 39.6 million tons in January-March 2026, from the United States decreased by -0.9% y/y to 20.0 million tons, and from South Africa by +8.4% y/y to 17.8 million tons. Shipments from Colombia were up +0.6% y/y to 12.9 million tons in January 2026, from Canada up +0.5% y/y to 11.4 million tons, and from Mozambique down -17.9% y/y to 3.7 million tons.”
According to shipbroker data, “Seaborne coal imports to mainland China fell by -10.8% y/y to 79.4 million tons in January-March 2026. Imports to India fell by -3.0% y/y to 54.7 million tons, to Japan by +4.1% y/y to 41.7 million tons in January 2026, and to South Korea by +20.2%”. Imports to the EU fell year-on-year to 29.1 million tons by -6.1% year-on-year to 15.2 million tons in January-March 2026, while volumes to Vietnam fell by -5.2% year-on-year to 15.7 million tons. Imports to Malaysia fell by -10.7% y/y to 8.5 million tons, and to Bangladesh by +12.0% y/y to 5.0 million tons. R”.
Source: Banchero Costa
“Australia is the second-largest coal exporter worldwide, accounting for 26.5% of global seaborne coal exports in January-December 2025, far behind Indonesia which had a 37.4% share in January-December 2025,” Banchero Costa noted. “Coal shipments from Australia were significantly impacted in 2021-2022 due to the inclusion of mainland China, which was previously the largest customer However, Australian exporters have been relatively successful in finding new markets limiting the impact on overall volumes, and the Chinese ban has been effectively reversed since the beginning of 2023. In 2022, Australian coal exports fell sharply by -7.8% year-on-year to 329.1 million tons, from 356.9 million tons in 2021, based on AXS Marine data. In 2023, volumes rebounded to 344.1 million tons +4.6% y/y In 2025, shipments decreased by -1.5% y/y to 351.1 million tons.
“Australia’s major coal export terminals are Newcastle (33.4 million tons loaded January-March 2026), Gladstone (15.8 million tons), Dalrymple Bay (12.5 million tons), High Point (7.1 million tons), Abbot Point (6.7 million tons), Brisbane (1.4 million tons), Port Kembla (0.9 million tons). The majority (69.3%) of the coal volumes shipped were loaded from Australia in the period From January to March 2026 on Panamax or post-Panamax tonnage, with 28.3% of volumes shipped on Capesize vessels, and 2.4% on Handy or Supra tonnage, there have been very noticeable adjustments in terms of trade patterns over the past few years, driven by political considerations.
Source: Banchero Costa
“Coal exports from Australia to mainland China fell by -7.6% year-on-year in January-December 2025, to 79.0 million tons, from 85.4 million tons in 2024. Let us remember that in 2022, due to the ‘unofficial’ Chinese ban, Australia shipped only 0.3 million tons of coal to China. In January-March 2026, Australia exported 13.1 million tons to China, down -17.2% y/y from January-March 2025. Mainland China now accounts for 16.8% of Australian coal exports, however the top destination remains Japan, with 103.1 million tonnes in January 2025, down -2.6% y/y and in January-March 2026, Australia exported 24.1 million tonnes to Japan, up +4.7% y/y Japan now accounts for 24.1 million tons and India is third with 12.0% In 2025, Australia exported 42.0 million tons of coal to India, up +4.5% y/y, from 40.2 million tons in 2024. From January to March 2026, Australia shipped 9.2 million tons of coal to India, down. -1.7% y/y to Vietnam A decline of 20.9% y/y to 4.6 million tons, concluded Panchero Costa.
Nikos Rousanoglou, Global Hellenic Shipping News
