BOGOTA, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Colombia, the world’s fifth-largest exporter of coal, produced 84.3 million tonnes in 2018, down 7.4 percent from the previous year as heavy rains disrupted operations at major mines, government figures showed on Wednesday. Coal production in the South American country during 2017 had surpassed 91 million tons, one of the highest figures historically. The biggest players in Colombia’s coal industry are Drummond Co Inc, Glencore Plc and Murray Energy Corp’s Colombia Natural Resources. There is also Cerrejon, owned by BHP Group Ltd, Anglo American Plc and Glencore. Leading companies in the sector recently forecast that Colombia’s coal production and exports are likely to remain stable this year, amid predictions that international fuel prices will fall. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta Writing by Helen Murphy; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
Coal production in the world's fifth largest exporter Colombia fell by 7.4% YoY in 2017 because of intense rains that affected output at key mines. Overall output for 2017 reached 84.3 million metric tonnes (mt), compared with 91 million mt in 2018, which was one of the highest amounts ever produced in the country. Colombia's coal output is forecast to remain stable this year as international fuel prices are expected to fall.