Australia: Coal Exports Up 39% M-o-M in May’17

Australian coal exports have surged during May’17, after increased demand for Coking Coal from Japan and China.

Australia is the largest coal exporter in the world; the country has recorded export of 31.34 MnT coal in May’17 which was 39% higher than 22.58 MnT coal exported during Apr’17.

Coal Exports in May’17 was down by 4% Y-o-Y compared with 32.81 MnT in May’16.

Moreover, Total coal export during the first five months of 2017 has decreased by 8% to 143.45 MnT in Jan’17-Jun’17 compared with 155.96 MnT in Jan’16-Jun’16.

Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Australia’s Non Coking coal export has marginally increased 3% M-o-M to 16.4 MnT in May’17. Whereas, coking coal exports from the country has zoomed by 124% M-o-M to 14.95 MnT in May’17 compared with 6.66 MnT in Apr’17, indicating an increased demand from Steel makers.

Source: Australian Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Importers:
Japan was the largest coal importer in May’17. Coal imports from Japan increased 73% M-o-M to 11.38 MnT in May’17. Imports in May’17 were also high on the yearly basis, compared with 9.74 MnT in May’16.

China was the second-largest coal importer from Australia. Chinese coal imports also increased on the monthly and yearly basis during the month, and were recorded at 7.17 MnT in May’17.

South Korea, the third-largest coal importer, had received 3.98 MnT coal in May’17, with an increase of 27% M-o-M. However, imports in May’17 were lower by 7% compared with 4.3 MnT in May’16.