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China July coking coal imports further rise

China’s coking coal imports posted a second straight monthly increase to 6.66 million tonnes in July – up 31.1% from June and up 31.9% on year, showed the latest data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC).

Industry insiders attributed the increase largely to a slump of Australian coking coal prices and improved demand from domestic steel mills amid a rebound of steel prices.

Imports from top supplier Australia surged 92.5% from the previous year and up 39.9% from the month-ago level to 3.98 million tonnes in July.

Coking coal imports from Mongolia – China’s second largest supplier – rose 18.6% on year and up 3.4% from June to 1.32 million tonnes during the same month.

Canada’s July exports to China stood at 1.0 million tonnes, up 32.7% on year and roaring 134.9% from June.

Over January-July, China imported a total 28.29 million tonnes of coking coal, down 21.4% year on year.

Top supplier Australia contributed 14.84 million tonnes or 52.5% during the same period, down 13.1% year on year.

Mongolia and Canada exported 7.59 million and 3.22 million tonnes of coking coal during the same period, down 12.2% and 15.7% on year, separately.

source: http://en.sxcoal.com