Glencore says heavy rain disrupts operations at two Australian coal mines

Aid from ArcelorMittal.

The recent deaths of nine West Australian fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers who took their own lives has put the topic back in the spotlight.

Index gained 9% from April to June, outperforming the S&P/TSX Composite index, which gained 6%, and the London Metal Exchange index, which gained 7% in the same period.

"There is quite a spread at the moment."

Not even higher seasonal demand expected as the Northern Hemisphere heads into winter will save coal from its free falling, analysts say.

Second-quarter coal production at Central Appalachia's 25 top-producing mines totaled 11.63 million tons, up about 2.9% from the 11.30 million tons produced in the same quarter a year-ago.

Through April 2014, Colombia supplied about 13.4% of the coal delivered to the Southern plants with units slated to retire or be converted.

Casablanca Capital-backed Lourenco Goncalves (55) is also the new chairman of the board.

Experts claim ban is unlikely to have a significant impact on the country's coal consumption in the short term.