Coal exports from Australia increased by 19.64% year on year to 29.27 million tonnes in February, which were also 3.94% higher than the month-ago level, according to cargo tracking data from Kpler.

Japan was still the top destination of Australian coal in January with shipments at 8.53 million tonnes, down 12.48% from a month earlier and 2.98% on the year.

Coal exports to China's mainland stood at 5.87 million tonnes, rising 6.81% on the month yet surging 153.60% from the same period last year, data showed.

India-bound shipments were 3.75 million tonnes, up 12.23% month on month and 40.26% from a year ago.

Over January-February, Australia's cumulative exports amounted to 57.43 million tonnes, up 10.51% from the year before.