Taiwan’s coal imports have decreased 11% on the month to 5.88 MnT in Aug’19 compared with 6.6 MnT in Jul’19. Coal volumes had also witness modest decline y-o-y from the year-ago month, wherein the country had taken 5.91 MnT coal in Aug’18.
While Taiwan’s government is seeking to increase electricity generation from gas and renewables, coal imports are expected to remain resilient in the short-term.
Taiwan’s Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) have pointed out that the energy transition policy is heading towards cleaner energy development via reduction of coal, increase of natural gas, development of green energy, and elimination of nuclear power.
The ministry has indicated that under the coal reduction policy, there is no plan for expansion of any coal-fired generator before 2025, and existing coal-fired generators will be replaced by gas-fired generators after decommissioning.
In the first 8 months of CY19 (Jan-Aug’19), Taiwan’s coal imports have reached 45.51 MnT, slightly falling from 46.18 MnT noted in the year-ago period.
Major Coal Exporters in Aug’19:
Australia was the largest exporter to Taiwan in Aug’19, but had recorded its lowest monthly coal supplies since Feb’19. Australian coal exports decreased 16% M-o-M to 2.6 MnT in Aug’19, which was also 12% lower on the year from 2.96 MnT in Aug’18.
Indonesian coal exports remained almost flat m-o-m at 1.96 MnT during Aug’19, while noting a subtle rise y-o-y from 1.93 MnT in Aug’18.
Coal supplies from Russia were down 6% M-o-M to 0.78 MnT in Aug’19, but had increased 53% Y-o-Y from 0.51 MnT in Aug’18.
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