smh article- coal sales soar, page-2

Hi DrZaius,

Very interesting article!

Coal sales soar to Asia, EU, Americas
September 3, 2009 - 12:59PM

Coal might well be blamed for doing in the planet's atmosphere but there's no stopping the world's appetite for it.

Sales of Australian are soaring, with exports to East Asia up 131.3 per cent in just one year, to the European Union up 104.3 per cent and to the Americas up 96.7 per cent, new studies reveal.

Analyses of Australian trade for 2008, prepared by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), show these three regions account for 80 per cent of Australia's total trade with the world.

As well as soaring coal sales, Australia is selling more cars and oil but less beef to the Americas, while sales of Australian wine to Europe have slumped.

The nations of East Asia remain Australia's top trading partners, buying $155.5 billion worth of goods and services (up 36.5 per cent) while Australia bought $132.1 billion (up 20.4 per cent) of their products and services in turn.

Exports to the EU rose 16.7 per cent to $32.6 billion while EU imports to Australia increased 14.2 per cent to $58.7 billion.

Similarly, exports to the Americas, principally the US, Canada and Mexico, rose 16.1 per cent to $25.1 billion while imports to Australia rose by virtually the same amount (16 per cent) to $45.3 billion.

Coal remains the big Australian seller, with exports worth $30.1 billion to East Asia (up 131.3 per cent), to the EU worth $6.2 billion (up 104.3 per cent) and to the Americas at $1.7 billion, (up 96.7) per cent.

JB