Coal exports through the Port of Newcastle, one of the largest terminals in the country, are on track to record their lowest level in at least five years as wet weather, rail maintenance and labour shortages hamper shipments.

For the first 11 months of the financial year, to the end of May, about 116.7 million tonnes were exported from Newcastle. That compares with more than 154 million tonnes in the previous two years and more than 160 million tonnes in 2020 and 2019, according to an analysis of shipping data. The shipments would need to jump by a whopping 37.5 million tonnes in June to be on par with last year.