Coal news and updates

No coal exports to China recorded from RBCT in Mar

April 13: There were no exports of coal from South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to China in March 2015. 

Therefore, exports in February, which came after a gap of seven months, proved to be just a flicker of hope which also somewhat indicates the southward-bound demand from this Asian country as its economy continues to slow down.

According to data made available to ICMW by one of the promoters of the terminal, Chinese companies bought 164,784 tons of coal from South Africa in February 2015 after a long gap since June 2014 when they had procured 164,999 tons of the material.

There were no exports of coal to China from South Africa in May 2014 either.

It is understood that mainly the weak economic situation in China and the softness in prices prevailing in the domestic market, coupled with the government’s initiative to curb imports, have prompted this country to reduce its coal imports from South Africa.

However, China is believed to have imported slightly higher quantities from Indonesia and Australia, sources informed ICMW.

Incidentally, Chinese companies had imported 1,066,836 tons of coal from South Africa in March 2014.

With only exports taking place in February in this year, total exports to China in the first quarter of 2015 stood at a mere 164,784 tons, while the figures stood at 2,110,824 tons and 3,297,485 tons respectively in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013.

Following are the monthly details of coal imports by China from RBCT in 2014 and 2013 (in tons):