The Chinese side ordered a batch of coal from Australia, which is a sign of, that tensions are easing between countries, writes the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post.
According to the publication, we are talking about the purchase of coking coal, a key component of the Chinese steel industry, which is more difficult to replace in production compared to thermal coal.
China ordered 80 000 tons of coking coal from the Moranbah North mine in Queensland. Coal should be in China in late February-early March, according to the Chinese edition. According to the publication, the Chinese received this coal at a price of 325 dollars per ton.
In January, the Chinese ordered thermal coal from Australia, which is used to generate electricity. However, only when these shipments of coal actually end up in China, it will be possible to talk about, that relations between countries began to thaw, notes South China Morning Post.
The newspaper reminds, that the last order for 80 000 tonnes – a small batch compared to the volume of coking coal, which China used to buy from Australia on a monthly basis - 2-3 million tons.
China, the world's largest producer and consumer of coal, does not import Australian coal from the end 2020 years against the backdrop of diplomatic conflict, which intensified after, how Canberra called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus at the start 2020 years without consultation with Beijing. Author:Bekhan Uzhakhov Photos used:www.theaustralian.com.au
