constructionmaterials supplier boral ltd said its earnings have been knocked by lower sales volumes following heavy rainfall in australias new south wales and queensland states and sharp rises in fuel and coal prices the company on tuesday said it expects underlying earnings before interest and tax for continuing operations excluding property of between 145 million australian dollars us107 million and a155 million this fiscal year boral last month reported firsthalf ebit of a78 million but forecast increasing secondhalf revenue after it raised prices for its products the impact on sales volumes of the extreme rainfall across new south wales and queensland in late february and early march have adversely impacted borals earnings by circa a23 million said chief executive zlatko todorcevski the exceptional weather conditions have prevented us from delivering products to our customers in many regions and caused significant production disruptions to our operations the sharp rises in coal and diesel prices were also likely to more than offset borals january and february product price increases mr todorcevski said boral said it has hedging in place for most of its expected diesel usage to april but no hedging thereafter it has no hedges against coal prices