The Chinese government has rejected pleas from its own steel industry to lift bans on Australian coal cargoes, keeping dozens of ships holding 8 million tonnes of the commodity stranded at sea.
More than 70 vessels carrying Australian coal have been unable to unload in China since October, coinciding with a souring of diplomatic and trade tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
Australian miners had hoped the restrictions may have eased from January 1 when China reset its unofficial import quotas but analysts and industry leaders on Thursday warned China appeared to be taking an even "firmer position" against Australian coal.
Production of LME deliverable KAS-branded aluminium at Kazakhstan’s Eurasian Resources Group has reached the four-million-tonnes milestone
