Turkey’s Coal imports have increased by 6% in CY16 to 41.39 MnT. However, coal imports suffered decline both on the monthly and yearly basis.
Turkey, one of the emerging coal importers in the globe, witnessed a rise in its yearly coal imports by 6% to 41.39 MnT in CY16 compared with 38.94 MnT in 2015. However, imports have fallen by 14% Y-o-Y to 3.37 MnT in Dec’16 compared with 3.94 MnT in Dec’15. Monthly imports have also decreased by 25% in Dec’16.
Grade-wise Coal Imports:
Turkey mainly imports Bituminous coal from all origins as country’s energy consumption is growing much faster than its production, increasing its dependence on coal imports.
Bituminous coal accounts for more than 70% of the total coal imported in CY16.
Bituminous coal imports have increased by 10% to 30.42 MnT in CY16 compared with 27.78 MnT in CY15. Other grades of coal imported in CY16 include Coking coal, Anthracite, Pet coke and Coke.
| Grade | 2016 | 2015 | %Change |
| Bituminous coal | 30.42 | 27.78 | 10% |
| Coking coal | 5.14 | 5.44 | -6% |
| Pet coke | 4.58 | 4.40 | 4% |
| Anthracite | 0.66 | 0.72 | -8% |
| Coke | 0.59 | 0.57 | 4% |
| Other | 0.00 | 0.03 | -100% |
| Total | 41.39 | 38.94 | 6% |
Source: Turkish customs
Quantities in MnT
Coal Imports in 2016: Turkey’s Domestic energy source mainly consists of lignite and small quantities of Anthracite, both of which are mainly used for power generation. Country’s net energy imports account for 76% of the total energy needs.
At present only a small power station (300 MW) uses domestic coal from Zonguldak basin while a larger power plants Iskenderun Plant (1200 MW) and Zonguldak power plant (1360 MW) uses imported coal. Other plants use lignite as fuel.
For smooth operation of these plants, the country is heavily dependent on import of coal which has been increasing steadily by almost 10 MnT in the past three years.
Major Exporting Countries in 2016:
Colombia supplied a major portion of the coal imports to Turkey followed by Russia, USA, South Africa, Australia, Canada and Venezuela. Colombia and Russia together supplied more than 60% coal imports to Turkey.
Colombian coal exports to Turkey rose by 37% to 15.61 MnT in CY16 compared with 11.36 MnT in CY15. Russia also followed a similar trend, saw a rise of 10% in yearly exports.
However, South African coal demand in Turkey saw major downfall, recording 53% decline from 4.98 MnT in CY15 to 2.32 MnT in CY16.
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