Colombia coal exports plummet after ban on Israel sales

Colombia’s coal exports fell by almost half in July compared to the same month last year, official figures showed Wednesday, amid a global price crisis and days after President Gustavo Petro’s ban on sales to Israel.

Colombia is Latin America’s leading coal producer but the sector has contracted for five consecutive quarters due to the collapse of international prices and domestic policies.

The country exported $479.8 million worth of coal in July, a 45.8 percent drop from the $885.8 million…