South Korea, the world’s fourth-largest importer, has registered a growth of 6% in monthly coal shipments during Nov’17, as per the data provided by Korean customs. Coal imports were recorded at 11.69 MnT in Nov’17 against 11.01 MnT in Oct’17.
On the yearly basis, Coal imports decreased 3% compared to 12.07 MnT in Nov’16.It is the second time that the country has posted Y-o-Y decline in monthly coal imports during CY17, having previously fallen on the Y-o-Y basis in Apr’17.
South Korean coal imports have grown this year, and were also supported by the outage in Nuclear power which forced power utilities to burn more coal. Total coal imports during Jan’17-Nov’17 has increased 8% Y-o-Y to 137.97 MnT, compared with 127.32 MnT during the same period in CY16.
Given the rising trend of coal imports, it is likely that the country will eventually cross its previous years’ total of 141.42 MnT.
Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Non-coking coal imports slipped 1% to 7.68 MnT in Nov’17, compared with 7.73 MnT in Oct’17.
Coking coal imports were increased 13% M-o-M to 2.32 MnT, Anthracite coal imports rose 117% on the month to 0.65 MnT in Nov’17.
Pet coke and Met coke were also imported in small quantities at 0.02 MnT and 0.03 MnT respectively, during the month.
| Grade | Nov’17 | Oct’17 | M-o-M |
| Non Coking Coal | 7.68 | 7.73 | -1% |
| Coking Coal | 2.32 | 2.06 | 13% |
| Anthracite | 0.65 | 0.3 | 117% |
| Pet Coke | 0.02 | 0.09 | -78% |
| Met Coke | 0.03 | 0.02 | 50% |
| Others | 0.99 | 0.82 | 21% |
| Grand Total | 11.69 | 11.01 | 6% |
Source: South Korean Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Exporters:
Australia, Indonesia and Russia are the major coal exporters to South Korea; these three countries cater about 70% of the monthly coal requirement of Korea.
Australia has exported 4.33 MnT coal in Nov’17, up 23% M-o-M compared with 3.52 MnT in Oct’17. Exports also increased 8% Y-o-Y compared with 4.01 MnT in Nov’16.
Indonesian coal exports also increased on the monthly basis, from 2.82 MnT in Oct’17 to 3.5 MnT in Nov’17. Whereas on the yearly basis, exports were down 3% compared with 3.62 MnT in Nov’16.
Russian coal exports had fell both on the month as well as on the yearly basis and were recorded at 1.45 MnT in Nov’17.
Canada, South Africa, the US, and China were the other major coal exporter during the month.
Source: South Korean Customs
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