Australia cuts 2013/14 iron ore export forecast to 631 mln tonnes

SYDNEY, March 26 (Reuters) - Australia cut its 2013/14 forecast for iron ore exports while lifting the outlook for metallurgical coal exports, two of the nation's top revenue-earning commodities.

The government's Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics on Wednesday forecast iron ore exports would now reach only 631 million tonnes in the financial year to June 30, down from 650 million tonnes in its previous forecast in December.

Metallurgical coal exports are forecast to total 177 million tonnes in 2013/14 versus its December forecast of 164 million.

(Reporting by James Regan. Editing by Andre Grenon)

((jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com)(+612 9373-1814)(Reuters Messaging: jim.regan.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA RESOURCES