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According to the latest import and export statistics of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), in the first eight months of 2022, Australia exported 234 million tons of coal, down 7% over the same period last year. Among them, the export volume of steam coal was 1216.1 million tons, down 8% year on year; The export volume of metallurgical coal was 112.4 million tons, down 6% year on year.

In addition, according to Kpler's tracking import and export data, Australia's coal exports totaled 257 million tons in the first nine months of this year, a decrease of 5.6% over the same period last year. In September, Australia's coal export was 27.3228 million tons, down 9.9% month on month and 13.2% year on year.

In September, the import and export data of CoalMint shipping showed that the export of Australian thermal coal dropped significantly, with the export volume of 12.8 million tons that month, down 24% month on month and 29.3% year on year; The export of metallurgical coal was 13.2 million tons, up 8% month on month and down 2% year on year.

Since October, Australia's coal exports have also remained very weak due to the continuous impact of multiple factors such as rainstorm and flood brought by Nanina climate for three consecutive years, labor shortage caused by epidemic situation, and labor union strike triggered by inflation.

According to Argus, the strike threatened Australia's coal exports. The Australian coal industry is facing more and more strikes, making it more difficult for coal mining enterprises to maintain production, as they are fighting the flood that has led to reduced exports, and adding upward pressure to the already rising coal prices.

As trade union members face inflationary pressures, increased profits of coal mining enterprises, labor shortage, changes in the federal government and other factors, the trade union is working hard to improve working conditions, raise wages and other issues. Several mining companies and port service providers are negotiating new Enterprise Agreements (EAs), while union representatives are voting on whether to take more and larger strike actions.

According to the import and export data, the trade union workers voted in favor of the United Wambo power coal mine with an annual output of 10 million tons operated by Glencore, a Swiss mining company, on behalf of its joint venture with Peabody, an American energy company, in Hunter Valley, New South Wales Peabody's Metropolitan metallurgical coal mine with an annual output of 2 million tons in Illawarra, NSW, and Myuna thermal coal mine with an annual output of 1.5 million tons in Lake Macquarie, NSW took strike action.

The coking coal mine of BHP Mitsubishi Alliance, an Australian Japanese joint venture, in Queensland is also facing a possible strike, after union workers voted for strike action. The Mining and Energy Union of Australia threatened to take action against the three metallurgical coal and power coal mines in Queensland of Sojitz, a Japanese company, in response to the company's application for the introduction of foreign workers to help solve the widespread labor shortage in Australia's mining industry.

The tugboat operator Svitzer has been informed that there has been a wave of strikes in its operations in Australia, including the coal ports of Newcastle, New South Wales, and Port Kembla.

Australia South Africa South32 lowered the plan guidance of Illawarra coal industry in October, partly due to labor interruption caused by wage dispute. After more than five weeks of strike action, the company signed a new EA agreement for four years in October this year.

The policy change of the Australian Federal Labor Party government further supported the trade unions. Last week, the Parliament submitted new labor relations legislation, making it more difficult for employers to terminate employment relations, and making it easier for workers to strike among multiple employers. Employers argue that these changes will lead to more strikes and business interruptions. Australia's east coast was already struggling with labor shortages and severe flooding.

The decline of Australian coal exports, especially the decline of steam coal, has led to the price being at a historical high, and the FOB price of high-quality coking coal has also rebounded to a high level of more than US $300 per ton.

On October 28, Argus estimated that the high-class 6000 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal was $376.22 per ton, which was lower than the peak of $444.59 on September 9, but still at a historical high. According to the import and export data, on October 31, the agency assessed that the FOB price of mid volatile coking coal in Australia was $287 per ton, which was lower than the peak of $623.65 per ton on March 15, but higher than the peak of $166 per ton on August 1. On the same day, the estimated FOB price of semi soft coking coal in Australia was US $260.40 per ton, up US $82 from US $178 per ton on August 1. On November 3, the FOB price of premium low volatile hard coking coal in Australia was 315.80/t, down 22% year on year, but up 17% month on month.