China’s coal imports from Australia rose to their highest in more than four years in November, customs data showed on Friday, as shipments continue to recover from an unofficial ban on Australian coal that was lifted in January 2023.
Australian coal imports were 9.3 million metric tons in November, according to the General Administration of Customs, the highest since April 2020 and up 47% from the same month of 2023.
Year to date, at 74.15 million tons, 2024 coal imports from Australia have already exceeded last year’s 52.47 million tons and are on track to top the 77.51 million tons imported in 2020, the last full year before the ban.
China halted Australian coal imports after Canberra questioned the origins of COVID-19, but relaxed the ban to secure energy supplies and because Chinese buyers favour high quality Australian coal for power generation and steelmaking.
Indonesia remains China’s top supplier of coal with shipments increasing 40% compared to November 2023, to 25.6 million tons. For the first 11 months of 2024, Indonesian imports were up 6% to 211.44 million.
Russian coal imports to China, limited by sanctions on Russian coal traders, fell 3% to 7.1 milliion tons last month and were down 8% year-to-date at 86.76 million tons. But Russia was still on track to hold onto its spot as China’s number-two coal supplier for the year.
Mongolian imports were up 4% last month to 8.23 million tons. Year to date shipments rose 22% to 75.23 million tons.
China’s total coal imports rose 26% year-on-year in November to 54.98 million tons.
From January to November, China’s coal imports rose 14.8% on the year to 490.03 million metric tons, exceeding 2023’s total imports and setting a fresh annual record.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Colleen Howe; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
