Colombia's coal output was up 6.6% year over year to 20.9 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2019 from 19.6 million tonnes in the year-ago period, Reuters reported May 22, citing government figures.

Colombia received more than $170 million in royalties from coal in the first quarter, according to the country's mines and energy ministry.

The world's fifth-largest exporter of coal saw a 7.4% year-over-year drop in production in 2018 to 84.3 million tonnes as the country experienced heavy rains that disrupted mine operations.