In 2019, about 57 per cent of China’s thermal coal imports and 40 per cent of its coking coal came from Australia, according to Chinese customs data. Photo: Xinhua
China-Australia relations: allowing coal ships to dock on humanitarian grounds not seen as softening of import ban
- China unofficially stopped importing Australian coal – both thermal coal used for electricity generation and coking coal – in October amid escalating tensions
- Eight vessels have been given permission to dock at three northern ports in China on humanitarian grounds with some ships having been at sea since June
In 2019, about 57 per cent of China’s thermal coal imports and 40 per cent of its coking coal came from Australia, according to Chinese customs data. Photo: Xinhua