Coal news and updates

SA coal imports to China nil in second half of 2014

January 14: There were no exports of coal from South Africa’s Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to China for the sixth month running in December on low demand from the 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 have stopped buying steam coal from South Africa after last procuring 164,999 tons of the material in June this year.

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 1,590,923 tons of coal from South Africa in December 2013.

With no imports for practically seven months out of the 12 months of 2014, total exports of South African coal to China stood at 2,492,629 tons, down 81.28% from 13,318,304 tons exported during the corresponding period of 2013.

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