News: NHC UPDATE 1-Australia's New Hope Corp sees strong FY22 on soaring coal prices

(Adds outlook, CEO quote, dividend)

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Australian coal miner New Hope Corp (NHC) swung to a full-year profit on Tuesday and forecast a strong performance by its businesses in fiscal 2022, as coal prices surged in key markets due to a rebound in demand.

Asian coal prices have hit multi-year highs in the past few months as suppliers scramble to meet demand for the fuel from top consumer China, whose economy is slowly getting back on track.

"Coal prices are expected to remain at historically high levels for some time to come," Chief Executive Officer Reinhold Schmidt said in a statement, adding that he expected strong demand to continue as well.

New Hope said it was back to full production and well positioned for the future, even though production at its flagship Bengalla mine in New South Wales was slightly lower than last year due to maintenance shutdowns.

For the year ended July 31, net profit attributable was A$79.4 million ($57.63 million), compared with a loss of A$156.8 million a year earlier.

The miner declared a dividend of 7 Australian cents per share. It had suspended its dividend last year to weather the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ($1 = 1.3778 Australian dollars)