Taiwan: Coal Imports Up 13% M-o-M in Jul’17

Taiwan coal imports have increased 13% M-o-M to 6.33 MnT in Jul’17, according to the customs data. The country had imported 5.58 MnT in the previous month.

Monthly imports in Jul’17 were also 7% higher on the year compared with the imports of 5.89 MnT attained during Jul’16. While, the total coal imports during CY17 (till Jul’17) was recorded at 41.74 MnT, with an increase of 10% Y-o-Y compared with 38.01 MnT coal imported during Jan’16-Jul’16 period.

Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Bituminous coal imports increased 14% M-o-M to 6.1 MnT in Jul’17, in comparison with 5.35 MnT in Jun’17. Bituminous coal had a share of more than 96% in Taiwan’s total coal imports.

Pet Coke, Met Coke and Anthracite coal were the other major coal grades imported during the month.

Source: Taiwan Custom Data
Quantity in MnT

Major Coal Exporters:
Australia, Indonesia and Russia remained the top 3 coal exporters in Jul’17. The three countries together account for more than 80% of the total monthly coal supplies to Taiwan.

Exports from Australia increased 30% M-o-M to 2.92 MnT in Jul’17, but were down 4% Y-o-Y in comparison with 3.05 MnT in Jul’16.

Indonesia, the second-largest coal exporter, witnessed fall in exports both on the monthly and yearly basis. Coal export was recorded at 1.51 MnT in Jul’17.

Russia was the third-largest coal exporters in Aug’17. Coal imports from the country fell 28% M-o-M to 0.87 MnT in Jul’17, while it remained stronger on the year compared with 0.63 MnT in Jul’16.

Apart from these three major coal exporters, Taiwan has increased its coal sourcing from South Africa and the US in CY17.

Exports from South Africa has been recorded 1.92 MnT during Jan’17-Jul’17 period, which has already surpassed the yearly total of 1.15 MnT attained in CY16. While the US is also seen higher on the major coal exporters list, with the total export of 0.70 MnT this year.

Source: Taiwan Custom Data