MELBOURNE: Australia's coal producers may have to start cutting output if China maintains limits on imports from them, the Australian government said on Monday, forecasting a sharp fall in coal export revenue this year.

China is the second-biggest buyer of Australia's thermal coal burned in power plants and metallurgical coal used to make steel. But Australia's coal exports have been hit by delays at Chinese ports and prices have fallen amid a growing row between the two countries, after Australia called for an enquiry into the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

"The bottom line for Australian coal producers is lower profitability and the likelihood of production cuts the longer the Chinese restrictions remain in place," the Australian Department of Industry said in its quarterly resources and energy outlook.

Chinese media on Monday reported that China's top economic planner had granted approval to power plants to import coal without clearance restrictions, except from Australia.

China's foreign ministry spokesman later said he was not aware of the situation but the competent authority had been adopting relevant measures on goods imported from Australia.

Metallurgical coal export revenue is expected to slump 35% to A$22 billion ($17 billion) in the year to June 2021 from a year earlier, the Department of Industry said in its report.

The forecast is A$1 billion lower than the previous outlook in September, as prices for Australia's metallurgical coal fell in the December quarter.—Reuters