Major price increases won by hard coking coal producers will push export earnings from that sector up 51% to $25.8 billion in 2005-06. The benchmark contract price for hard coking coal increased 120% to US$125 per tonne.
For thermal coal, settlements reached in January received a price rise of around 20%.
Meanwhile, iron ore exports are now forecast to be $13 billion in the next financial year, up on a revised forecast of $8.1 billion in 2004-05.
The total value of Australia's minerals and energy exports is now forecast to be $82.6 billion in 2005-06, a 22% increase on the previous financial year.
