According to the vessel line-up data compiled by CoalMint research, coal shipments imported by Pakistan has dropped to a 15-month low during Apr’19.
Pakistan’s coal intake fell 38% M-o-M to 863,920 MT in Apr’19 as slower coal burn at power plants and weaker cement sales weighed on the country’s demand for imported fuel. Coal shipments were also 20% lower on the year from 1,080,687 MT in Apr’18.
Country’s cement industry, a major coal consuming sector, has witnessed subdued sales during the current Pakistani fiscal year.
Cement sales in Mar’19 fell by 7%- down on the year for a third consecutive month — to 4.34 MnT, although this was still a five-month high. While total sales during the first 9 months of FY19 (Jun’18-Mar’19) was marked slightly lower on the year at 34.58 MnT compared with 34.76 MnT in the corresponding period of FY18.
(Pakistani fiscal year runs from June to July of a particular year)
Consequently, coal demand from Pakistan’s cement sector had come down, marked by a 42% fall in monthly coal sourcing to 304,815 MT during Apr’19.
Besides, coal intake by power sector also continued its downtrend on monthly basis, which had fell to its lowest total for the fiscal at 300,040 MT in Apr’19.
Origin-wise Coal Imports:
Pakistan’s coal intake from its preferred supplier South Africa, decreased 48% on the month to 631,685 MT in Apr’19. This was the lowest monthly coal receipt from South Africa since Feb’18.
Coal sourcing from Indonesia improved 8% on the month to 177,220 MT in Apr’19. Remaining coal volume was procured from Mozambique.
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