Turkey: Coal Imports Up 19% M-o-M in May’19

Turkish coal imports have increased 19% on the month to 3.35 MnT in May’19, driven by a surge in coking coal intake. Import volumes were, however, marked 12% lower on the year from 3.81 MnT in May’18.

Data provided by customs indicate that the country’s import of coking coal had attained an 18-month high total of 0.7 MnT in May’19, following an uptick in supplies from Australia. Receipts from Australia totaled 0.55 MnT, up from nothing in May last year.

There was also an upsurge seen in US coal supplies which had increased 45% M-o-M to 0.42 MnT in May’19. Coal shipments from the US are likely to rise further following Turkey’s decision to cut customs duty on imports of US coking coal to 5% from 10%, after the US halved its tax on imports of Turkish steel to 25% in May.

Turkish non-coking coal imports dropped to a 3-month low of 2.09 MnT in May’19. While imports of other coal commodities-Pet Coke, Anthracite and Met Coke, all had increased m-o-m during May’19.

Source: Turkish customs
Quantity in MnT

During the first 5 months of CY19, Turkey’s coal imports have reached 16.03 MnT, down 7% Y-o-Y from 17.28 MnT in the corresponding period of CY18.

Major Coal Exporters:
Colombia remained the largest exporter to Turkey in May’19, despite recording its lowest monthly coal supplies for CY19. Colombian exports decreased to 1.18 MnT in May’19 compared with 1.32 MnT in Apr’19, which was also 21% lower on the year from 1.5 MnT in May’18.

Russia was the second-largest exporter during the month with supplies of 1.03 MnT coal. Exports increased 24% M-o-M from 0.83 MnT in Apr’19 but were 5% lesser on the year from 1.08 MnT in May’18.

During the month, Australia emerged as the third-largest coal exporter with an uptick in coking coal supplies to Turkey, leaving the US in the fourth spot.