As per the vessel line-up data compiled by CoalMint Research, coal shipments from Australia have increased by 11% in Jun’18 on a month-to-month basis.
Australian coal export totaled 34.7 MnT in Jun’18, against 31.2 MnT in May’18; which was the country’s highest monthly export volume since CY17.
Australia is expected to remain the largest coal exporter in the world, with a clear lead in metallurgical coal and an increasing share of thermal coal exports, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
In particular, Australian thermal coal demand has strengthened remarkably on the back of higher consumption in India, South-East Asia and other Asian countries, particularly in China.
On a half-yearly basis, Australia’s total coal exports recorded an increase of 8.5% to 185 MnT in H1 2018 (Jan’18-Jun’18), as compared to around 170 MnT in the corresponding months of the previous fiscal.
Major Coal Importers:
China became the largest receiver of Australian coal in Jun’18, followed by Japan, India and South Korea — these four nations together accounted for more than three-fourths of Australia’s total coal shipments during the month under review.
Chinese coal imports from Australia surged by almost 45% last month, as an early “warmer than usual” summer heated up electricity demand for household air-conditioning and industrial cooling.
However, Australia’s monthly coal exports to India decreased by over 10% in Jun’18, primarily due to the onset of monsoon.
Among Australia’s biggest importers, South Korean and Japanese coal imports had also fallen by 9% and 4% respectively during the month of Jun’18.
Source: CoalMint Research, GAC | Quantity in MnT
Country-wise Monthly Comparison of Australia’s Coal Exports:
| Country | Jun’18 | May’18 | Change (%) |
| China | 11,352,342 | 7,854,961 | 44.5% |
| Japan | 8,797,639 | 9,168,842 | -4.0% |
| India | 3,388,324 | 3,784,249 | -10.5% |
| South Korea | 2,962,129 | 3,266,238 | -9.3% |
| Taiwan | 2,782,301 | 2,681,902 | 3.7% |
| Vietnam | 567,630 | 534,104 | 6.3% |
| Malaysia | 527,330 | 513,672 | 2.7% |
| Brazil | 522,787 | 462,296 | 13.1% |
| Netherlands | 457,736 | 582,915 | -21.5% |
| Philippines | 206,193 | 71,000 | 190.4% |
| Canada | 177,250 | ||
| Indonesia | 175,500 | 241,000 | -27.2% |
| Spain | 162,000 | 173,400 | -6.6% |
| Sweden | 150,000 | ||
| South Africa | 142,325 | 72,000 | 97.7% |
| Thailand | 141,220 | 215,574 | -34.5% |
| Italy | 77,850 | ||
| Chile | 70,000 | 328,255 | -78.7% |
| South America | 45,600 | ||
| New Caledonia | 38,300 | 75,908 | -49.5% |
| Others | 1,976,669 | 1,175,982 | |
| TOTAL | 34,721,125 | 31,202,298 | 11.3% |
Source: SteelMint, Custom | Quantity in MnT
Australia’s Major Coal Handling Ports in Jun’18:
Newcastle sustained its leadership position as the largest coal handling port of Australia in Jun’18; coal shipment from the port rose by approximately 19% M-o-M to 13.89 MnT in Jun’18 compared with 11.69 MnT in May’18.
DBCT, Gladstone, Hay Point and Abbot Point were the other major coal handling ports in Jun’18.
| Port | Jun’18 | May’18 | %Change |
| Newcastle | 13.89 | 11.69 | 19% |
| DBCT | 6.19 | 5.78 | 7% |
| Gladstone | 6.28 | 6.22 | 1% |
| Hay Point | 4.09 | 4.71 | -13% |
| Abbot Point | 2.57 | 2.12 | 21% |
| Brisbane | 0.94 | 0.41 | 130% |
| Port Kemble | 0.76 | 0.28 | 167% |
| TOTAL | 34.72 | 31.20 | 11% |
Leave a Reply