According to the data provided by Turkish Customs, the country’s coal import has fallen to a 5-month’s low of 3.67 MnT in Jan’18.
Turkey’s coal import was progressively increasing since Oct’17, and had hit the year high total of 4.74 MnT in Dec’17. However, the beginning of the year 2018 has seen a dip in imports, as coal shipments had fell 23% M-o-M in Jan’18.
Still, on the yearly basis, Turkey’s coal import had increased 12% compared with 3.29 MnT in Jan’17.
As per the market reports, Turkish government is planning to raise the sulphur cap on imported thermal coal. The new cap being considered would allow power utilities to import thermal coal with a sulphur content of 3%. The current levels of sulphur content are fixed at 1-2%, depending upon the specific utilities allowance.
Although no date has been finalised regarding when the proposed plan would be implemented; the decision would certainly increase the buying affinity of high sulphur, high CV US coal among the buyers.
Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Imports of all the coal grades had fell from the previous month, except Coking coal, whose imports had increased 46% M-o-M to 0.38 MnT in Jan’18 compared with 0.26 MnT in Dec’17.
Non-Coking coal imports were down 29% M-o-M to 2.56 MnT, also Pet coke imports had fell 7% to 0.56 MnT in Jan’18.
Similarly, Anthracite and Met Coke import had exhibited decline of 8% and 69% respectively, during the month.
| Grade | Jan’18 | Dec’17 | M-o-M |
| Non Coking Coal | 2.56 | 3.6 | -29% |
| Pet Coke | 0.56 | 0.6 | -7% |
| Coking Coal | 0.38 | 0.26 | 46% |
| Anthracite | 0.11 | 0.12 | -8% |
| Met Coke | 0.05 | 0.16 | -69% |
| Grand Total | 3.67 | 4.74 | -23% |
Source: Turkish Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Exporters:
Colombia remained the largest coal exporter to Turkey in Jan’18. Turkish coal buyers awaiting the higher sulphur cap were still procuring Colombian coal to meet the demand.
As per the customs data, Colombian coal exports were recorded 22% lower on the month at 1.56 MnT in Jan’18 compared with 2 MnT in Dec’17. On the yearly basis, Exports had increased 16% compared with 1.35 MnT in Jan’17.
Russian coal exports to Turkey had decreased 14% M-o-M to 1.15 MnT in Jan’18, but were 34% higher on the year compared with 0.86 MnT in Jan’17.
US were the third-largest coal exporter in Jan’18. The country had witnessed fall in coal shipments both on the monthly and yearly basis, to record exports of 0.41 MnT coal during the month.
Source: Turkish Customs | Quantity in MnT
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