Cyclone hits coal volumes
RAIL freight operator Aurizon said coal haulage volumes in Queensland were down 5 per cent in the three months to March 31 because of Cyclone Debbie.
NSW volumes were up 8 per cent but the disruption in Queensland meant total haulage volumes for the period were 48.4 million tonnes, down 2 per cent from the prior corresponding period.
Iron ore haulage volumes were also down 7 per cent at 5.6 million tonnes.
Aurizon has already predicted a full-year earnings hit of as much as $115 million due to Cyclone Debbie.