Japan: Coal Imports Down 13% M-o-M in Sep’18

Japanese coal imports have fell 11% on the month in Sep’18, but were 3% higher on the year than the levels attained in Sep’17.

According to the data provided by Japanese customs, the country had imported 15.98 MnT in Sep’18 against 18.37 MnT in Aug’18, while import in Sep’17 was 15.47 MnT.

Japan’s non-coking coal imports have been affected by the restart of several nuclear reactors, but coal-fired power plants still holds a significant share in the country’s energy mix.

The price agreement reached between Japanese buyer Tohoku Electric Power and Australian producer Glencore, is likely to impart lenience in Australian thermal coal supplies into Japan.

Besides, Japan’s coking coal imports also decreased on the month, amid a drop in shipments from top supplier Australia as prices climbed.

A break-up of Japanese imports during Sep’18, indicates that Non-coking coal imports were down 13% M-o-M to 10.61 MnT. Coking coal imports fell 11% M-o-M to 3.49 MnT.

Anthracite imports rose to its highest monthly total for CY18, by recording 0.61 MnT in Sep’18. Pet coke imports rose slightly higher on the month to 0.47 MnT.

Source: Japanese customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Exporters:
Australia, Indonesia and Russia accounted for more than 80% of the monthly coal supply to Japan followed by the US, Canada and China. However, amongst the top 6 major exporters only Canada had witness an increase in monthly exports.

Australian coal exports were down 12% M-o-M to 9.65 MnT in Sep’18, but slightly up on the year compared with 9.53 MnT in Sep’17.

Indonesian coal exports decreased 28% M-o-M to 2.07 MnT in Sep’18, which were also 4% lower on the year compared with 2.15 MnT in Sep’17.

Russian coal exports hit its lowest monthly total for the past 7 months, marked at 1.33 MnT in Sep’18.

Source: Japanese customs | Quantity in MnT