South African coal exports have recorded modest decline of 1% during the first half of CY18. According to the data provided by South African customs, coal export from the country has decreased from 40.45 MnT in Jan’17-Jul’17 to 40.01 MnT in Jan’18-Jul’18.
The constraint in South African coal supply resulting from strong domestic demand, shortages at Eskom, and a range of production, transport and weather issues, have affected the coal exports in H1 CY18.
Nevertheless, South Africa’s major coal consumers- India, Pakistan and South Korea, all have recorded a growth in coal sourcing on the year-on-year basis.
In fact, the top 7 coal importers which have received 85% of the total coal in H1 CY18 witnessed an increase of 13% Y-o-Y in coal sourcing from South Africa. While countries other than the major importers had received only 6 MnT coal during the half year period.
On the monthly basis, South African coal export rebounded after falling for the last months to attain 6.47 MnT in Jun’18. Exports had increased 4% M-o-M from 6.23 MnT in May’18 but were down 9% on the year compared with 7.08 MnT in Jun’17.
Major Coal Importers in H1 CY18:
India remained the largest coal importer from South Africa in H1 CY18. The country had registered a growth of 7% Y-o-Y in imports during the half year period to 18.81 MnT.
The need to restock coal for the monsoon had seen aggressive buying from the Indian buyers. During the month of Jun’18, Indian coal imports from Africa had increased 15% M-o-M to 3.83 MnT, which was also 35% higher on the year compared with 2.84 MnT in Jun’17.
Pakistan was the second-largest coal importer in H1 CY18. Imports from the country increased 19% Y-o-Y to 5.36 MnT, compared with 4.52 MnT in H1 CY17.
Imports by South Africa’s third-largest coal consumer-South Korea were marked 4.7 MnT in H1 CY18, up 25% Y-o-Y from 3.76 MnT in H1 CY17.
Source: South African customs | Quantity in MnT
Leave a Reply