Market position
Asia is the dominant market for Rio Tinto Coal Australia's products, with approximately 56 per cent of total sales made to Japan in 2008. Demand in the Pacific has continued to grow, driven by the growth of Asia.
In 2008, Rio Tinto Coal Australia produced more than 22.3 million tonnes of thermal and semi-soft coking coal, and 7.4 million tonnes of hard coking coal, with approximatley 43 per cent shipped to Japan.
In 2008, Rio Tinto Coal Australia continued to work with customers to assist in the optimisation of their businesses and help them meet their environmental obligations. Projects included:
- Continued close work with one of our customers in supplying coal, the properties of which were able to reduce stack particulate emissions in our customer's power plant
- The completed construction of an on-site laboratory at Hail Creek Mine, delivering improved control over the quality of our products delivered to our customers, assisting them to optimise their coke blends for the efficient production of steel.
Many of Rio Tinto Coal Australia's customers who are parties to the Kyoto Protocol have been actively positioning themselves in order to meet their emissions targets in 2008 to 2012. Rio Tinto Coal Australia has been working with some of these customers to better understand the role it can play in helping them meet their targets.
Working with customers is part of our approach to product stewardship.
