Coal miner New Hope Corporation’s production dropped in the three months to April as it dealt with excess coal stocks and weak market conditions.

The company produces thermal coal from open cut mines at Acland on the Darling Downs and at Rosewood near Ipswich in Queensland.

New Hope’s saleable coal production in the three months to April 30 was down 24 per cent from the same period last year, and coal sales were down two per cent.

Heavy rainfall and rail outages earlier in the year resulted in coal stocks building up, and the company has implemented shutdowns to manage its stocks, it said on Tuesday.

Costs are also being reduced in response to difficult market conditions, with production scaled back at its Jeebropilly mine, near Rosewood, from late April.