China: Coal and lignite imports rise by 17% on month in Sept’21

Amid the acute coal supply shortage in China, coal and lignite imports into the country rose by 17% m-o-m to 32.9 mn t in Sept’21, as per customs data. On a y-o-y basis, it rose by a whopping 76% as power utilities struggle to get supplies ahead of the winter season. In Jan-Sept’21, total coal and lignite imports stood at 230.4 mn t, down by 4% y-o-y.