Japan’s coal import has recorded a decline of 2% during the first half of CY18. As per the data provided by customs, coal import by the country has modestly fallen from 97.37 MnT in Jan’17-Jun’17 to 95.26 MnT in Jan’18-Jun’18.
On the monthly basis, Japanese coal import in Jun’18 had fallen to its lowest total for CY18. Coal import in Jun’18 was down 10% M-o-M to 14.74 MnT compared with 16.29 MnT in May’18, which was also 17% lower on the year compared with 17.71 MnT in Jun’17.
The reason behind the country’s low import in Jun’18 could be attributed to the fall in coal sourcing from its major exporter Australia- which provides both coking and non-coking coal to Japan. Australian coal export to Japan had fallen to its lowest monthly total over the 2017-18 period, was marked at 8.18 MnT in Jun’18.
Negotiations between Glencore and Japan’s Tohuku Electric to set the price for Australian thermal coal supply contract for the 2018-19 had ended without a settlement, which might also have affected Japan’s coal sourcing from Australia.
Grade-wise Coal Imports in H1 CY18:
Japan’s non-coking coal imports during the first half of CY18 had decreased 3% Y-o-Y to 63.17 MnT compared with the corresponding period’s total of 65.17 MnT recorded in CY17. Anthracite coal imports were down 27% Y-o-Y to 2.59 in H1 CY18.
Coking coal imports had increased 4% Y-o-Y to 21.57 MnT in H1 CY18. Imports of met coke and pet coke had also increased during the half year period.
| Sub Commodity | H1 CY18 | H1 CY17 | % Change |
| Non Coking Coal | 63.17 | 65.17 | -3% |
| Coking Coal | 21.57 | 20.84 | 4% |
| Anthracite | 2.59 | 3.53 | -27% |
| Pet Coke | 2.58 | 2.46 | 5% |
| Met Coke | 0.80 | 0.54 | 48% |
| Others | 4.55 | 4.81 | -5% |
| Grand Total | 95.26 | 97.37 | -2% |
Source: Japanese Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Exporters in H1 CY18:
Australia and Indonesia remained the top two largest coal exporter to Japan, providing nearly three-fourth of the total coal in H1 CY18. However, exports from both these countries were down on the yearly basis.
Australian coal export fell 3% Y-o-Y to 57 MnT, while Indonesian coal export was down 12% Y-o-Y to 13.85 MnT in H1 CY18.
Russia was the third-largest coal supplier to Japan, whose exports had increased 5% Y-o-Y during H1 CY18. Coal export from the US was up 22% Y-o-Y to 7.36 MnT in H1 CY18.
Source: Japanese customs | Quantity in MnT
Leave a Reply