New Hope Group (ASX:NHC) demonstrated operational resilience in its latest quarterly update, posting an underlying EBITDA of $106.9 million for the three months ended Jan. 31.
The result brings the coal miner’s first-half earnings for FY26 to a solid $214.8 million, narrowly outperforming the $214.1 million market consensus projected by Visible Alpha.
Despite a marginal dip from the preceding quarter’s $107.9 million, the company reported a significant surge in physical output.
Group coal sales climbed 8.2% quarter-on-quarter to 2.9 million tonnes, while production rose 4.8% to 4.1 million tonnes compared to the previous corresponding period.
The growth was underpinned by a recovery in realized prices, which averaged $139 per tonne, up from $136.6 per tonne.
Management attributed the production boost to streamlined logistics across the Bengalla and New Acland operations.
While a strengthening Australian dollar acted as a headwind, the company benefited from a robust API-5 price index.
The pricing strength was fueled by "solid" Chinese demand as power utilities stocked up for the winter peak, coinciding with supply tightening out of Indonesia.
At the time of reporting, New Hope Group’s share price was $4.80.