Demand for thermal coal used by the power sector was supported by low rainfall in the south of China, which saw output from hydropower facilities in provinces such as Sichuan and Yunnan slide.
Coal use leads to droughts, which reduces Hydro performance, which leads to greater coal use…
Australia’s coal exports to China were non-existent from 2020 - Jan 2023 due to an import ban. Most of AU coal now goes to Japan.
China now imports most of its coal from Indonesia and Russia.
https://www.ga.gov.au/digital-publication/aecr2023/coal
https://www.energymonitor.ai/industry/weekly-data-china-coal-imports-hit-a-high-but-not-from-australia/?cf-view