Japan Coal Imports Up 12% M-o-M in Mar’17

Japan, second largest coal importers in the world, recorded growth of 12% M-o-M in their monthly coal imports. The country imported 17.05 MnT coal in Mar’17 against 15.27 MnT imported in Feb’17.

However, Coal imports in Mar’17 were lower compared with 17.47 MnT imported during Mar’16, thus recording a fall of 2% Y-o-Y, according to the data released by Japanese Customs.

Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Japan majorly imports Bituminous coal and Coking coal. The imports of these two coal grades account for more than 80% of the total monthly imports. Anthracite, Pet Coke, Coke & semi-coke and other grades of coal comprise the remaining coal grades imported by Japan.

During Mar’17, Japan recorded increase in their monthly imports of Coking coal, Anthracite and Bituminous coal. While imports of Pet coke and Coke & semi-coke grades of coal fell during the month.

Preliminary Data
Source: Japanese Customs
Quantities in MnT

Major Exporting Countries:
Australia remained the top coal exporting nation to Japan followed by Indonesia, Russia and Canada.

Australia supplied 9.91 MnT coal to Japan. Monthly imports increased marginally by 1% compared with the import of 9.78 MnT in Feb’17. However, Yearly imports fell by 3% compared with 10.21 MnT in Mar’16.

Indonesia, second largest coal exporter, recorded a growth in their monthly coal supplies to Japan by 12%. The Country supplied 2.95 MnT in Mar’17 against 2.62 MnT in Feb’17. Imports were lowered by 17% Y-o-Y compared with 3.56 MnT in Mar’16.

Russia, third largest coal supplier to Japan, exported 1.55 MnT coal in Mar’16 against 1.13 MnT in Feb’17, thus recording rise of 37% M-o-M in coal imports.

USA has shown significant improvement in coal supplies to Japan. USA exported 1.07 MnT coal in Mar’17 with an increase of 62% M-o-M and 204% Y-o-Y.