Australia: Coal Exports Down 7% Y-o-Y in H1 CY17

Australia, the world’s largest coal exporter has suffered a decline of 7% in yearly coal exports. According to the customs data, Australian coal export has fell to 175.51 MnT during H1 CY17 (Jan’17-Jun’17) in comparison with 189.89 MnT coal exported during H1 CY16.

Australia’s coal export has been affected by series of disruption during the CY17.

Firstly, the coal exports were affected during Apr’17, when Debbie cyclone had hit Queensland region in late Mar’17. As a consequence, Australian miners were forced to declare force majeure during the period of disruption and had witnessed lowest monthly export volume of 22.58 MnT in Apr’17 during the 2016-17 period.

More recent news of disruption came from Hunter Valley coal mines, where strike activities by Glencore’s coal workers had affected production and caused surge in thermal coal spot prices to USD 100/MT, FoB Newcastle.

Coal Export in Jun’17 was recorded at 32.06 MnT, down by 3% Y-o-Y in comparison with 32.94 MnT in Jun’17. Whereas, Jun’17 coal exports had shown marginal increase of 2% M-o-M compared with 31.34 MnT in May’17.

Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Non-Coking coal had a share of about 55% in total coal exports. Export of Non-coking coal was recorded at 96.28 MnT during Jan’17-Jun’17 period against 95.89 MnT during Jan ’16-Jun’16.

While, exports of Coking coal have fallen 14% Y-o-Y to 79.23 MnT in H1 CY17, due to supply disruption caused by Debbie cyclone.

Source: Australian Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Importer:
Japan was the major coal importer from Australia in H1 CY17, followed by China, South Korea, India and Taiwan.

Japanese coal import was recorded at 56 MnT in H1 CY17, down by 2% Y-o-Y compared with 57.07 MnT in H1 CY16.

China, second-largest coal importer, had received 39.32 MnT coal from Australia in H1 CY17 with an increase of 12% Y-o-Y compared with 35.15 MnT in H1 CY6.

South Korea, the third-largest coal importer, witnessed decline of 17% in yearly coal imports. The country has imported 22.71 MnT coal during H1 CY17.

Quantity in MnT