Japan Coal Imports Witness Modest Growth M-o-M in Nov’19

Coal imports by Japan have remained almost stable on the month during Nov’19, but have exhibited drastic fall from the levels attained in the year-ago period, weighted down by a lower receipt of coking coal shipments.

Data provided by Japanese customs indicate that the country’s coal intake stood 16.01 MnT in Nov’19 as against 15.95 MnT in Oct’19, which was marked 11% lower on the year from 18.07 MnT in Nov’18.

Japan had managed to put an end to a series of decline seen in non-coking coal imports, which increased 5% on the month to 10.84 MnT in Nov’19. However, country’s coking coal intake was down 9% M-o-M to 3.66 MnT in Nov’19, also receding 16% Y-o-Y from 4.38 MnT in Nov’18.

Anthracite coal shipments had noted an 8-month low total of 0.41 MnT in Nov’19, whereas receipt of coke products had seen a noticeable growth m-o-m during the month.

Source: Japanese customs | Quantity in MnT

During the first 11 months of CY19 (Jan-Nov’19), Japan’s coal imports have reached 174.45 MnT, down 3% Y-o-Y from 179.96 MnT noted in the year-ago period.

Major Coal Exporters:
Japan’s largest coal supplier-Australia, had witnessed a comparatively improved exports by attaining a 4-month high total of 9.08 MnT during Nov’19. However, coal volumes were still marked 12% lower Y-o-Y from 10.28 MnT in Nov’18.

Coal supplies from Indonesia extended its rise on the month, as it grew 7% M-o-M to 2.39 MnT in Nov’19. But, exports were down 4% Y-o-Y from 2.48 MnT noted in Nov’18.

US emerged as the third-largest supplier, with exports of 1.78 MnT coal in Nov’19. Coal volumes surged 29% M-o-M from 1.38 MnT in Oct’19, which were also 32% higher on the year from 1.35 MnT in Nov’18.

Other major coal exporters-Russia, Canada and China, had registered a fall in monthly coal supplies to Japan during Nov’19.