According to the South African customs data, the country has achieved the highest monthly coal exports during Sep’17 since CY10, the period upto which CoalMint has maintained customs data.
South African coal exports have rose 16% M-o-M to 8.26 MnT in Sep’17, compared with 7.12 MnT in Aug’17. It is only the second time that the monthly exports have crossed 8 MnT mark, having previously achieved this feat back in Sep’16. Thereby exports have increased 3% Y-o-Y compared with the total of 8.06 MnT in Sep’16.
Increased coal demand from India and South Korea during the month had resulted in the enormous growth in exports. As a result, total export in CY17 (till Sep’17) has reached 60.75 MnT, up 10% compared with 55.34 MnT during the same period in CY16.
Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Bituminous coal exports increased 18% M-o-M to 8.02 MnT in Sep’17, having a share of 97% in total monthly exports. However, Anthracite coal export fell 6% M-o-M to 0.15 MnT during the month.
Bituminous and Anthracite had major share in total monthly export, while Pet coke and Met coke exports had totaled about 0.01 MnT in Sep’17.
| Grade | Sep’17 | Aug’17 | M-o-M |
| Bituminous Coal | 8.02 | 6.78 | 18% |
| Anthracite | 0.15 | 0.16 | -6% |
| Met Coke | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0% |
| Pet Coke | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0% |
| Others | 0.07 | 0.16 | -56% |
| Grand Total | 8.26 | 7.12 | 16% |
Source: South African Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Importer:
India was the biggest contributor to help South Africa set new record in coal exports. In the period of low domestic coal production and supply regulations to Non-power sector, Indian sponge manufacturers were in a buying spree having waited much longer for monsoon to end.
India had imported nearly half of the South African coal in Sep’17, with total imports accounting to 3.99 MnT, up 29% M-o-M in comparison with 3.09 MnT in Aug’17. Imports were also 20% higher on the year compared with 3.32 MnT in Sep’17.
South Korea became the second-largest coal importer during the month, with imports rising nearly 10 fold in Sep’17. The country has received 1.24 MnT coal in Sep’17 against 0.12 MnT in Aug’17. Back in Sep’16, the country had received only 0.01 MnT coal from South Africa.
Import from the third-largest importer, Pakistan, had fell 32% M-o-M to 0.6 MnT.
Source: South African Customs | Quantity in MnT
South African Coal Offers:
At present, South African coal index API-4 has reached USD 95, on the wake of possible strike announced by National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
5500 NAR coal was assessed at USD 78-79/MT, FoB Richards Bay with corresponding offer for Indian buyers translate into USD 91-92/MT, CFR India.
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