South African Coal Exports Down 12% M-o-M in Oct’17

According to the customs data, South African coal exports have dropped 12% on the month to 7.28 MnT in Oct’17, against 8.26 MnT in Sep’17.

Aggressive buying from both India and South Korea had resulted in record South African coal exports during Sep’17.However, after covering much of the coal needs for the coming month, both countries had slowed down coal buying in Oct’17.

South African monthly exports have been increasing on the Year-on-Year basis since May’17. Also in Oct’17 coal export was 12% higher than the total coal quantity of 6.51 MnT recorded in Oct’16.

Total South African coal export in CY17 (till Oct) has reached 68.03 MnT, up 10% compared with 61.85 MnT coal exported during Jan’16-Oct’16.

Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Bituminous coal exports fell 14% M-o-M to 6.92 MnT in Oct’17, against 7.28 MnT in Sep’17.

During Oct’17,Anthracite coal exports rose to the highest monthly total for CY17, growing 40% M-o-M to 0.21 MnT. Met coke and Pet coke were also exported in small quantity during the month.

Source: South African Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Importers:
Indian coal imports from South Africa declined 24% M-o-M to 3.02 MnT in Oct’17, against 3.99 MnT in Sep’17. On the yearly basis, imports were down 5% compared with 3.17 MnT coal in Oct’17.

Pakistan overtook South Korea to become the second-largest coal importer in Oct’17.Coal import from Pakistan rose 23% M-o-M to 0.74 MnT during the month, which was also 139% higher on the year compared with 0.31 MnT coal in Oct’16.

South Korean coal imports were recorded 0.72 MnT in Oct’17, falling 42% M-o-M from 1.24 MnT in Sep’17.However, on the yearly basis, Coal imports were 67% higher than 0.43 MnT coal received during Oct’16.

Source: South African Customs | Quantity in MnT