According to the data released by the US customs, the country’s coal exports have totaled 128.87 MnT in CY17, posting a strong increase of 36% from 95 MnT in CY16.
Annual volumes climbed to the highest since 2014, when the nation’s exports reached 126.24 MnT. The remarkable rise in exports this year was seen as a result of the government’s plan to revive the coal industry.
The country already had surpassed its previous year’s export total in Oct’17, and had maintained its steady growth during the remainder of the year. Exports in Dec’17 had increased 16% on the year to 11.86 MnT compared with 10.24 MnT in Dec’16; which were also slightly higher on the month compared with 11.77 MnT in Nov’17.
Grade-wise Coal Exports:
Shipments of Coking coal were recorded highest at 50.13 MnT during the year, increasing 35% Y-o-Y from 37.13 MnT in CY16.
Pet coke shipments were marked second-highest at 39.84 MnT, followed by Non-coking coal shipments which had increased 108% Y-o-Y to 29.73 MnT in CY17.
Among the major coal grades exported from the US, shipments of Anthracite coal were the only one to have fallen on the yearly basis.
| Grade | 2017 | 2016 | M-o-M |
| Coking Coal | 50.13 | 37.13 | 35% |
| Pet Coke | 39.84 | 39.44 | 1% |
| Non Coking Coal | 29.73 | 14.29 | 108% |
| Met Coke | 1.1 | 0.91 | 21% |
| Anthracite | 0.27 | 0.36 | -25% |
| Others | 7.82 | 2.88 | 172% |
| Grand Total | 128.87 | 95 | 36% |
Source: US Customs
Quantity in MnT
Major Coal Importers:
India remained the highest coal importer from the US in CY17. The country had witnessed a growth of 24% Y-o-Y to 16.96 MnT.
US had emerged as an alternative coal market for Indian buyers, when the country was facing shortage of domestic coal; also the temporary ban on Pet coke usage had spurted demand for the US based Non-coking coal. Indian coal imports were particularly high in the later part of the CY17, and were recorded at 5.67 MnT during Oct’17-Dec’17 compared with 3.94 MnT in Jul’17-Sep’17.
Japan replaced Netherlands to become the second-largest coal importer in CY17. The country had received 10.76 MnT coal during the year. While Netherlands was the only country in the top-10 coal importers, which had witness fall in yearly coal imports.
South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and China were among the other major coal importers during the year.
Source: US Customs | Quantity in MnT
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