According to the vessel line-up data compiled by CoalMint Research, Bangladesh has surpassed its coal import total of CY16. The country has imported 2,428,710 MT coal in CY17 (Jan’17-Dec’17) against 2,091,600 MT in CY16, thereby recording a growth of 16% Y-o-Y.
Coal import during the month of Dec’17 stood 467,100 MT which was 69% higher on the year compared to 276,500 MT in Dec’16. However, Imports had fell 12% M-o-M compared with 531,260 MT in Nov’17.
Coal demand in Bangladesh has been rising on the back drop of construction activities being carried out, as most of the imported coal is utilized by the bricks manufacturers in the country.
Bangladesh mining firm, Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) has witnessed a growth in coal sales to both Power sector as well as to the local industries in the country. According to the data provided on company’s website, BCMCL had sold 540,577.49 MT coal to Power Development Board (PDB) during the fiscal year 2016-17, with an increase of 11% Y-o-Y; while coal sales to local industries also increased 5% Y-o-Y to 451,512 MT during the period.
To cater the growing demand, BCMCL had also recorded an increase of 14% Y-o-Y in coal production during the fiscal 2016-17. The company had produced 1,160,657.81 MT coal against 1,021,638.1 MT in 2015-16.
The surge in imports despite the growth in domestic coal production highlights the rising coal demand in the Bangladesh.
Upcoming coal-fired projects are likely to support coal imports as the government is planning to increase power generation capacity to 21000 MW by 2020, 32000 MW by 2030 and 54000 MW by 2040. The present contribution of 2% power generation by coal is expected to jump to 35% by 2030, which would be majorly achieved through imported coal-based plants.
Major Coal Exporters:
Bangladesh had procured its coal imports from four nations in CY17 namely-Indonesia, South Africa, Mozambique and Malaysia. Indonesia remained the largest coal supplier to Bangladesh, followed by South Africa.
Indonesian coal export rose 18% Y-o-Y to 1,624,680 MT in CY17, while export from South Africa fell 4% Y-o-Y to 579,880 MT.
Mozambique recorded significant rise in coal exports, the country had supplied 210,150 MT coal to Bangladesh in CY17 with an increase of 309% Y-o-Y compared with 51,400 MT in CY16.
| Country | CY17 | CY16 | %Change |
| Indonesia | 1,624,680 | 1,375,170 | 18% |
| South Africa | 579,880 | 603,580 | -4% |
| Mozambique | 210,150 | 51,400 | 309% |
| Malaysia | 14,000 | – | – |
| Others | – | 61,450 | – |
| Total | 2,428,710 | 2,091,600 | 16% |
Source: CoalMInt Research
Quantity in MnT
Indian Coal Export to Bangladesh:
Coal exports from Meghalaya to Bangladesh have resumed, but that comprised of the old stock, as coal mining is yet to restart in Meghalaya. Traders, spoken to by CoalMint, said that around 2 ton of coal per day has been transported to the neighboring country through road.
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