Japanese coal import has decreased 11% on the month to 17.14 MnT in Jan’18, as per the data provided by customs. Japan had imported 19.25 MnT coal in Dec’17, which had helped the country to achieve 7-year high coal import total of 199.31 MnT in 2017.
The country’s non-coking coal imports in particular rose to a new high at 133.8 MnT in CY17, as the thermal power generation had to fill in the gap left by the slow restart of nuclear power plants closed after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
However, the beginning of 2018 has witnessed a drop in coal demand from the country. Total coal import in Jan’18 was also 5% lower on the year, compared with 18.09 MnT in Jan’17.
Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Japanese non-coking coal imports were down 9% M-o-M to 11.46 MnT in Jan’18, whereas Coking coal imports had fell 24% M-o-M to 3.33 MnT during the month.
Among the major coal grades, imports of Met Coke and Pet coke had only increased during the month. Anthracite coal imports too had dropped 64% on the month to 0.25 MnT in Jan’18.
| Grade | Jan’18 | Dec’17 | M-o-M |
| Non Coking Coal | 11.46 | 12.64 | -9% |
| Coking Coal | 3.33 | 4.39 | -24% |
| Pet Coke | 0.59 | 0.47 | 26% |
| Anthracite | 0.25 | 0.7 | -64% |
| Met Coke | 0.17 | 0.14 | 21% |
| Others | 1.32 | 0.92 | 43% |
| Grand Total | 17.14 | 19.25 | -11% |
Source: Japanese Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Exporters:
Australia remained the largest coal exporter to Japan in Jan’18, followed by Indonesia.
Australian coal exports had fell 13% M-o-M to 10.03 MnT in Jan’18, which was also 12% lower on the year compared with 11.35 MnT in Jan’17.
Indonesian coal exports were recorded slightly higher on the month at 3.08 MnT in Jan’18 compared with 3.07 MnT in Dec’17. However, on the yearly basis, imports had decreased 11% compared with 3.45 MnT in Jan’17.
US had replaced Russia to become the third-largest coal exporter to Japan. The US had posted 13% increase in monthly coal shipments to Japan, which were recorded 1.32 MnT in Jan’18.
Russia, Canada, China, Colombia and Saudi Arabia were among the other major coal exporters during the month.
Source: Japanese Customs | Quantity in MnT
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