The world's largest steelmaking coal producer
BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, a joint venture between
BHP and Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Corp, announced on June 1 that it will close two shipping berths at the Hay Point coal terminal in
Australia's coal producing state of Queensland.
According to news sources, the berths will stay closed for more than a month, from July 7 until August 10, to enable the installation of equipment at the terminal. Hay Point has two berths and a capacity to export 44 million mt of
coking coal a year. The closure could tighten the global
coking coal markets.