Macarthur Coal March Qtr output falls 56pc on wet weather

PERTH: Macarthur Coal on Wednesday said its production had dropped 56 percent during the quarter ending March 31 due to continuing wet weather at its mines in Australia's northeastern Queensland state.

"Due to the wet weather, total coal sales of 0.48 million tonnes during the quarter were well below expectations and down 61 percent on the prior year comparative period," the company said in its quarterly production report.

Macarthur declared force majeure on deliveries from its Coppabella and Moorvale mines on December 3 due to the severe weather in the region.

The force majeure remains in place on the two mines which produce 2.4 million tonnes per annum each of coking coal used for steelmaking.