Australia: Coal Exports Down 3% M-o-M in Aug’17

Australia, the world’s largest coal exporter, has recorded drop in monthly exports in Aug’17. According to the customs data, Australian coal export decreased 3% M-o-M to 32.58 MnT in Aug’17, which was 3% higher on the year compared with the exports of 31.75 MnT in Aug’16.

Total coal exports during the first 8 months of CY17 (Jan’17-Aug’17) has also fell 4% Y-o-Y to 241.6 MnT compared with exports of 252.75 MnT during the same period in CY16.

Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Two major coal grades have been exported out of the country namely Non-coking coal and Coking coal, with the former having majority of share in total exports.

Exports of Non-coking coal were 16.38 MnT, down 14% M-o-M in Aug’17 while Coking coal exports rose 12% M-o-M to 16.2 MnT during the month.

Source: Australian Customs
Quantity in MnT

Despite the monthly fall, total non-coking coal exports have increased 2% Y-o-Y to 131.67 MnT during Jan’17-Aug’17, while Coking coal exports during the same period has fell 11% Y-o-Y to 109.94 MnT, due to supply disruptions caused by Debbie Cyclone in Mar-Apr’17.

Major Coal Importers in Aug’17:
Japan remained the top coal importer from Australia with the imports of 10.74 MnT in Aug’17. Coal imports were the highest since May’17, increasing 11% M-o-M compared with 9.64 MnT in Jul’17

China was the second-largest importer during the month, had recorded 7% fall in monthly imports to 7.29 MnT in Aug’17. However, Imports from the country were still 38% higher on the year compared with 5.25 MnT in Aug’16.

India replaced South Korea to become the third-largest coal importer in Aug’17. Imports from India increased 5% M-o-M to 4.09 MnT, while South Korean coal imports fell 15% M-o-M to 4.04 MnT in Aug’17.

Taipei, Brazil, Thailand and Malaysia were the other major coal importers during the month.

Source: Australian Customs