Whitehaven Coal says it's unlikely to be affected by Australia's carbon emissions cuts as it helps Japan and other Asian customers reach their targets.
Managing director Paul Flynn said local plans to cut carbon emissions by at least 26 per cent by 2030 would have little impact on its coal export business.
"I don't think it's going to affect us too much at all because we don't supply here," Mr Flynn told AAP.
"Our coal is necessary for our customers in their jurisdictions to reduce their emissions.
"Our coal is fundamental to that."
Despite slumping further into the red with a $330.6 million full year loss, Mr Flynn is upbeat about the long term outlook for coal, and welcomed recent devaluations of the Chinese currency which have weighed on the Australian dollar.
Mr Flynn said the company's coal was highly sought after in Asia, where emissions targets were predicated on using more coal along with nuclear, gas and renewables.
Whitehaven says Japan, which has an emissions target of 25 per cent, and Korea were the company's biggest thermal coal markets, while the majority of the company's metallurgical coal was exported to India and Japan.
He said the company's coal quality was fundamental for Japan to meet its emissions reductions targets.
Whitehaven's loss in the year to June 30 was driven by a $355 million impairment charge related to early stage exploration assets, as well as a $65 million charge associated with the repeal of the minerals resource rent tax.
Weaker Chinese demand had caused coal prices to fall and further production cuts to metallurgical coal were required for the global market to rebalance, the company said.
Whitehaven's underlying earnings rose 44 per cent to $130 million as cost cuts, increased production and sales volumes offset weakness in coal prices.
Mr Flynn said the company had returned to profitability in the second half of the year despite subdued demand for coal.
Whitehaven shares dropped four cents, or 3.85 per cent, to $1.00.
WRITEDOWNS WIDEN WHITEHAVEN'S LOSS
* Net loss of $330m, compared to a $38m loss
* Revenue up 1pct to $763m
* No full year dividend, unchanged
