Inflationary pressures in the Australian mining sector have been put in stark contrast by Whitehaven Coal after the company revealed the unit cost of delivering a tonne of its coal to Newcastle Port this year would be approximately double the cost seen as recently as 2016.

Whitehaven said on Wednesday its unit costs would be about 7 per cent higher than previously expected this year because flooding in the Gunnedah Basin would reduce mine production and sales volumes by between 5 per cent and 7 per cent.