It is reported that Australia exports of iron ore and coal rose to record levels in the December quarter buoyed by strong demand from Japan, Korea and China.
ABARE Australian mineral statistics December quarter 2009 report said iron ore export volumes for the quarter were more than 98 million tonnes and coal exports exceeded 74 million tonnes.
Mr Paul Morris deputy executive director of ABARE said the record volumes were underpinned by demand from steel mills and power stations in Japan, Korea and China.
ABARE said in a statement that despite a nine per cent rise in the Australian dollar, Australia energy and mineral resources export earnings increased by 1% to USD 31 billion in the December quarter 2009.
The index of export prices of Australian energy and mineral resources declined by five per cent in the December quarter.
The energy export price index fell 9% and prices for metals and other minerals dropped by 1%.
(Sourced from http://news.smh.com.au)
