Taiwan: Coal Imports Down 34% M-o-M in Feb’19

Taiwan coal imports have decreased 12% on the month, following a decline in coal shipments from its major coal suppliers during Feb’19.

Preliminary data from customs indicate that the country has imported 3.94 MnT coal in Feb’19 as against 5.95 MnT in Jan’19.

Notably, it was the first time that the country’s imports had fallen below the 4 MnT mark since Jan 2010 (the period from which CoalMint has started tracking Taiwan’s coal imports).

Imports in Feb’19 were also 17% lower on the year from 4.74 MnT in Feb’18.

Taiwan’s largest coal supplier, Australia, had recorded a fall of 28% in monthly coal
shipments.

Australian coal exports dropped to 2.12 MnT in Feb’19 against 3.02 MnT in Jan’19, which was also 4% lower on the year from 2.26 MnT in Feb’18.

Coal supplies from Indonesia reduced to halve during the month, noted at 0.88 MnT. Whilst no coal shipments were recorded from South Africa in Feb’19.

Russia emerged as the third-largest coal supplier to Taiwan in Feb’19. Russian coal exports posted a remarkable growth of 97% M-o-M, but it was not enough to overcome the slump in supplies from Australia and Indonesia.

Colombia (0.13 MnT), Canada (0.08 MnT) and China (0.04 MnT) were the other noticeable coal exporters to Taiwan in Feb’19.