[China-Australia Relations]73 Australian coal ships waited for half a year for unloading, but ended in a bleak-Hong Kong Economic Times-China Channel-China News

▲ A large number of Australian coal ships were stranded in China, waiting for more than half a year for customs clearance, but their wishes came to nothing.Profile picture

Under the tense Sino-Australian relationship, China completely stopped importing Australian coal, and a large number of coal ships that failed to make the customs clearance were forced to stay on the coast of China. Australian media reported that Beijing authorities have made it clear to the cargo owners of 73 ships and nearly 8 million tons of Australian coal that their cargo will not be unloaded in China, which means that this batch of coal will have to find new buyers at a lower price, otherwise It will only lose everything. Reports indicate that Beijing’s decision has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis for nearly 1,500 sailors, most of whom have been trapped at sea since June last year and have been prohibited from going ashore.

“The Australian” reported that most of the Australian coal loaded on the coal ships was metallurgical raw materials, used for steel making, and one-third of the steam coal needed for power generation. China’s new order has dealt a huge blow to Australia’s third-largest export industry, which had hoped that as China reset its informal import quotas, the coal ban would be lifted. According to industry sources, the ban on Australian coal is expected to last until after March, and some even expect it to be implemented for a whole year, even though China is experiencing a cold winter and paying high prices to ensure coal supply from domestic and foreign producers.

At the same time, China is turning to its Australian competitors to speed up arrangements for customs clearance of coal from Russia and Canada, and all ships are guaranteed to discharge their cargo within 7 to 10 days. A crew member said,With the decline in the value of the cargo, Australian coal, including hundreds of crew members from India and the Philippines, became increasingly desperate. He described “we are in the dark”.

An official from the Australian Federal Department of Trade and Foreign Affairs (DFAT) stated that the Canberra authorities have made several representations to Beijing on the delays in Australian coal customs clearance and crew welfare. “The current deadlock involves private commercial arrangements. We urge all parties A solution is reached as soon as possible… to meet the needs of Chinese buyers and consumers, and to ensure the health of the crew on board.”

Opposition trade spokesperson Madeleine King criticized Australia’s rapid deterioration of relations with China under government governance, but failed to diversify its export markets. It is hoped that the new Minister of Trade Dan Tehan will work hard to contact his counterpart in Beijing regarding the trade crisis, because this crisis is threatening thousands of Australian jobs and billions of Australian dollars in export income.

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Editor in charge: Chen Jianxi

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