January 14, 2021 - Colombian coal miner Cerrejon's production and export levels fell in 2020 due to lower demand, price declines, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and a three-month strike which paralyzed operations, the company said on Wednesday.

The miner produced 12.4 million tonnes of coal in 2020, down almost 52% from the 25.8 million tonnes it produced in 2019.

Exports fell 48.2% from 26.3 million tonnes in 2019 to 13.6 million tonnes in 2020, the lowest level in the last 18 years.

Last year was "one of the most difficult in Cerrejon's history," the company said in a statement, citing reduced activities during a 40-day period while it established biosecurity measures, and the 91-day strike, its longest ever, among other reasons.

The company is owned equally by BHP Group, Anglo American and Glencore.

Cerrejon, in La Guajira province, also controls a 150-km rail line and a seaport that receives ships carrying up to 180,000 tonnes of cargo.

Colombia produced 82.2 million tonnes of coal in 2019, which is the second-biggest contributor to the country's export earnings after oil.

The country was looking to match 2019 coal production levels in 2020.