Taiwan: Coal Imports Up 15% M-o-M in May’17

Monthly coal import in May’17 was the highest in the past three years and has crossed the 7 MnT mark for the first time since Oct’16.

Taiwan Coal imports have reached new high during May’17. Imports have increased 15% M-o-M to 7.31 MnT during the month compared with 6.33 MnT in Apr’17.

Monthly imports in May’17 were also 22% higher than the levels seen during the same month of 2016.

Total coal imported during the first 5 months of 2017 (Jan’17-May’17) stood 29.82 MnT. During Jan’16-May’16, Taiwan had imported 26.94 MnT coal, thus recording an increase of 11% Y-o-Y, according to the customs data.

Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Taiwan majorly imports Bituminous coal which accounts for more than 95% of the country’s total coal imports.

Imports of Bituminous coal have rose 14% M-o-M to 6.97 MnT in May’17, compared with 6.1 MnT in Apr’17.

Other coal commodities imported by Taiwan include Met coke, Anthracite and Pet coke.

Source: Taiwan Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Exporters:
Australia was the major coal exporter to Taiwan in May’17. The country’s export increased 19% M-o-M to 3.22 MnT in May’17.However, on the yearly basis, monthly exports fell marginally from 3.25 MnT exported during May’16.

Indonesia, the second-largest coal exporter, has recorded increase in exports both on the monthly and yearly basis. The country supplied 2.15 MnT coal in May’17.

Russia, the third-largest coal exporter, suffered a decline in monthly coal exports to Taiwan. Exports have fallen 35% M-o-M to 0.71 MnT in May’17.

Apart from these major coal suppliers, Exports from USA has shown remarkable growth. The country has exported 0.35 MnT coal to Taiwan in May’17 and total export volume during Jan’17-May’17 has reached 0.52 MnT, indicating an uptrend in coal exports from the country.