Newcastle has out-traded Queensland's Hay Point to become the world's largest exporter of coal, the New South Wales Government says.
Despite claims that NSW is already in recession, the Hunter region sea port has enjoyed record trade figures across a number of commodities in the first half ofthe financial year.
The strong growth has been led by a jump in the amount of coal exports, Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi said yesterday.
"A total of 49,557,567 tonnes of trade was registered by the port for July-December 2008, which was 3 million tonnes more than for the corresponding period the previous year.
"Coal exports were the major factor, with 47.05 million tonnes being exported, including a record monthly total of 8.55 million tonnes in December," he said.
The record trade figures were the result of steady demand for thermal coal, which was expected to continue.
"Eighty per cent of coal exported from Newcastle is thermal coal, while Hay Point mostly exports coking coal," he said.
"Demand for thermal coal, which is used for electricity generation, is holding up much better than coking coal so Newcastle's domination over Queensland's terminals is set to continue."
Grain exports have also tripled over the corresponding 2007 period, a jump Newcastle Port Corporation boss Gary Webb attributes to the end of a lengthy layoff caused by the drought.
More than 66,000 tonnes of grain was exported in the second half of last year, compared with 23,000 tonnes in the last six months of 2007.
Steel and iron exports also jumped, to 227,000 tonnes from 76,000 tonnes.
