Australian coal exports from two key terminals at main export hub of Newcastle rose by 1.4% year on year in the first half of 2019 to 52.97 million metric tons (mt), according to port data. June shipments were 4% higher than the same month last year, at 9.4 million mt, the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator figures showed. Port inventories were largely unchanged, compared with the end of July 2018, at around 2 million mt.