Japan: Coal Imports Up 12% M-o-M in Aug’18

Japanese coal imports have increased 12% on the month in Aug’18 to attain its highest total for CY18. As per the data provided by Japanese customs, the country’s coal import was 18.37 MnT in Aug’18 against 16.37 MnT in Jul’18.

In order to meet unseasonably high power demand, Japan had boosted volumes of non-coking coal in August as the utilities continue to favour coal-fired generation to capitalise on coal’s competitive pricing against gas.

Coal Import in Aug’18 was 10% higher on the year compared with 16.77 MnT recorded in Aug’17. However, total imports during the first 8 months of CY18 (Jan’18-Aug’18) has slightly came down to 130 MnT as against 131.31 MnT in Jan’17-Aug’17 period.

Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Import of all the major coal grades had increased on the monthly basis in Aug’18.

Japanese non-coking coal and Anthracite coal imports rose to its highest monthly total for CY18, recorded at 12.18 MnT and 0.57 MnT respectively in Aug’19.

Coking coal imports grew 27% M-o-M to 3.92 MnT in Aug’18 compared with 3.09 MnT in Jul’18. Pet coke and Met coke imports were marked at 0.45 MnT and 0.2 MnT respectively during the month.

Source: Japanese Customs
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Exporters:
Australian coal exports rose 16% on the month to 10.99 MnT in Aug’18, which was also the highest monthly total for CY18. On the yearly basis, Imports in Aug’18 were marked 8% higher on the year than the levels attained in Aug’17.

Indonesian exports of 2.88 MnT coal in Aug’18 was the highest total since Jan’18. The country’s coal supplies to Japan had increased both on monthly and yearly basis.

Coal supplies from the third-largest coal exporter-Russia had however fell 7% M-o-M to 1.89 MnT in Aug’18, compared with 2.03 MnT in Jul’18, but were still 15% higher on the year from 1.65 MnT in Aug’17.

US, Canada, China and Mozambique were among the other major coal exporters to Japan in Aug’18.

Source: Japanese Customs | Quantity in MnT