South Korean coal imports have continued its rising trend during Aug’19, as coal volumes were benefited from an easing of coal-fired plant restrictions for the peak summer cooling period and an increased intake of coking coal.
Data provided by customs indicate that the country had imported 13.56 MnT coal in Aug’19, up 5% on the month from 12.95 MnT in Jul’19, which was also 1% higher on the year from 13.42 MnT in Aug’18.
The month of August had witnessed South Korea attaining its highest receipt of coking coal since Apr’15.
However, despite the uptick seen in recent months, various measures implemented by the Korean government to reduce its reliance on coal power has drastically lowered the country’s import volumes in CY19.
During the first 8 months of CY19 (Jan-Aug’19), South Korean coal imports have fallen 7% Y-o-Y to 93.86 MnT compared with 100.49 MnT noted in Jan-Aug’18.
Grade-wise Coal Imports:
South Korean non-coking imports noted the only m-o-m fall among the major coal grades during Aug’19.
Non-coking coal intake came down 7% M-o-M to 9.87 MnT in Aug’19, but was still marked 8% higher on the year from 9.18 MnT in Aug’18. Besides, the monthly volume was the third highest coal receipt noted in CY19.
Imports of coking coal surged 90% M-o-M to 2.77 MnT in Aug’19 as against 1.46 MnT in Jul’19. While Anthracite coal imports were seen at a 6-month high, recorded at 0.73 MnT during the month.
| Grades | Aug’19 | Jul’19 | % Change |
| Non Coking Coal | 9.87 | 10.59 | -7% |
| Coking Coal | 2.77 | 1.46 | 90% |
| Anthracite | 0.73 | 0.6 | 22% |
| Pet Coke | 0.16 | 0.13 | 23% |
| Met Coke | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0% |
| Others | 0.00 | 0.15 | -100% |
| Total | 13.56 | 12.95 | 5% |
Source: South Korean customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Exporters:
South Korea had witness a decline in coal intake from its major suppliers-Australia, Indonesia and Russia in Aug’19, but the fall in coal volume was compensated by an increased sourcing from Canada and the US.
Canadian coal exports to South Korea attained a multi-month high total in Aug’19, rising 93% M-o-M to 1.97 MnT.
Australia remained the largest coal supplier in Aug’19. However, exports to South Korea decreased 4% M-o-M to 4.2 MnT in Aug’19, which were also marked slightly lower on the year from 4.26 MnT in Aug’18.
Besides, Russian coal supplies to Korea dropped 11% on the month to 3.08 MnT in Aug’19, alongside Indonesia which had noted 4% fall in monthly coal shipments during Aug’19.
Elsewhere, US coal exports to Korea doubled m-o-m noted at 0.6 MnT in Aug’19.
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