In October, China suspended purchases of Australian coal as Beijing continued to tightly control imports amid soured political relations with Canberra.
Gold price to hit $2,300 next year on inflation risks, zinc price soars as Vedanta halts Gamsberg mine after accident, Dominion Diamond Mines to restart Ekati.
Despite gold's price slump, strong copper and iron ore prices lifted MINING.COM's ranking of the world's 50 most valuable miners to a new record high of $1.35 trillion.