Australia Minister denies report of China coal ban

The Australian government has moved to allay shareholder fears after the share prices of Australian coal miners tumbled on news that China’s northern port of Dalian had banned coal imports from Australia, and placed an overall cap of 12-million tonnes for coal imports during 2019.

Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister Simon Birmingham said on Friday that there was “no basis to believe” that there was a ban on Australian coal exports into China, or any port in China.