Japan: Coal Imports Up 6% M-o-M in Oct’17

Japanese coal imports have increased in Oct’17 after falling for the three consecutive months. According to the customs data, Japan coal imports rose 6% M-o-M to 16.46 MnT in Oct’17, compared with 15.47 MnT in Sep’17.

On the yearly basis, imports were 8% lower than the coal volume of 17.86 MnT received during Oct’16. While the total coal imports in CY17 during Jan’17-Oct’17 has now become almost identical with the imports of 163.22 MnT coal recorded during Jan’16-Oct’16.

Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Japan has witnessed a drop in Coking coal imports during Oct’17, while import of all other major coal grades had increased during the month.

Coking Coal import was down 4% M-o-M to 3.31 MnT in Oct’17. Non-Coking coal import increased 8% on the month to 11.14 MnT.

Monthly imports of Anthracite, Pet coke and Met coke had recorded growth of 52%, 23%and 33% respectively in Oct’17.

Source: Japanese Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Exporters:
Australia remained the largest coal exporter, followed by Indonesia and Russia in Oct’17. These three countries have been catering more than 85% of the monthly coal requirement of Japan.

Despite being the largest coal supplier, Australian coal export has fallen for the second successive month and was recorded at 9.48 MnT in Oct’17. Monthly export was 1% lower on the month compared with 9.53 MnT in Sep’17, which had also fell 16% Y-o-Y compared with 11.27 MnT in Oct’16.

Indonesian coal exports increased 14% M-o-M to 2.46 MnT in Oct’17, but were 3% lower on the year compared with 2.53 MnT in Oct’16.

Russian coal exports rose to the yearly high of 2.29 MnT in Oct’17.Coal export to Japan in Oct’17 was 78% higher on the month compared with 1.29 MnT in Sep’17. Exports also increased 21% on the yearly basis compared with 1.89 MnT in Oct’16.

Source: Japanese Customs | Quantity in MnT