The contract between Xstrata’s major shareholder Glencore International and the Mexican Federal Electricity Commission is the second in six months for the Swiss-owned group.
Trade minister Mark Vaile said the contract represented a further boost to Australia’s growing exports to Mexico.
“Mexico’s plan to expand its coal-fired power generation capabilities, is expected to see prospects for Australian coal exports improve further in the coming years,” Vaile said.
Two-way trade between Mexico and Australia has doubled over the past five years to $1 billion.
The first shipment by Xstrata was expected to arrive in Mexico late last week, with the coal being supplied from Mount Owen in the Hunter Valley region.
