Japanese coal imports have fallen to its lowest monthly total for CY19 during May.
Data provided by custom indicate that the country’s coal import had decreased 6% M-o-M to 14.58 MnT in May’19 compared with 15.55 MnT in Apr’19, which was also 10% lower on the year from 16.29 MnT in May’18.
Japanese coal intake had been affected by an overall drop in coal-fired power output, supplemented by increases in both nuclear and gas-fired power generation.
During the first 5 months of CY19 (Jan’19-May’19), Japanese imports have totaled 77.92 MnT, down 3% Y-o-Y from 80.52 MnT noted in same period last year.
Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Japanese import of non-coking coal continued its declining trend by posting a monthly total of 9.34 MnT in May’19. Apparently, non-coking coal intake had fell to its lowest total in the past 2 years during the month.
Japan’s coking coal imports also dropped in May’19 as shipments from Australia and Canada fell sharply. Coking coal volumes taken during the month decreased 15% to 3.39 MnT as against 4.01 MnT in Apr’19.
However, imports of Anthracite, Pet Coke and Met Coke had increased m-o-m during May’19.
| Grades | May’19 | Apr’19 | % Change |
| Non Coking Coal | 9.34 | 9.96 | -6% |
| Coking Coal | 3.39 | 4.01 | -15% |
| Anthracite | 0.62 | 0.5 | 24% |
| Pet Coke | 0.55 | 0.39 | 41% |
| Met Coke | 0.11 | 0.08 | 38% |
| Others | 0.58 | 0.61 | -5% |
| Grand Total | 14.58 | 15.55 | -6% |
Source: Japanese customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Exporters:
Coal purchasing pattern of Japan has shifted during CY19, with buyers increasingly diversifying their sources of coal supply.
Consequently, Japanese intake from its major coal exporter-Australia has fallen 7% Y-o-Y to 45.24 MnT during the first 5 months of CY19.
Australian export in May’19 had dropped 13% M-o-M to 7.81 MnT, which was also 18% lower on the year from 9.48 MnT in May’18. Apparently, monthly coal volumes had fell below the 8-MnT mark for the first time since May’15.
Exports from Japan’s second-largest coal supplier-Indonesia, grew 4% on the month to 1.94 MnT in May’19.
US emerged as the third-largest coal supplier during May’19, with exports rising 118% M-o-M to 1.86 MnT.
Supplies from Russia had come down slightly on the month, marked at 1.7 MnT in May’19 as against 1.71 MnT in Apr’19. While, Canada and China had posted a hefty fall in coal supplies to Japan during the month.
Leave a Reply