Coal news and updates

Shanghai January-August coal imports at 4.53 mt

Coal imports of Shanghai, China’s leading industrial city, totaled 4.53 million tonnes over January-August this year, plunging 51.9% year on year, according to the latest data released by the General Administration of Customs.

Total value of coal imports amounted to $290 million, a decline of 53.3% year on year.

That translated to an average price of $64.29/t during the same period, dipping 2.9% from the year prior, mainly due to falling coal prices at global market amid oversupply and weak demand.

Lignite accounted for 53.2% or 2.41 million tonnes of the total, slumping 54% from the previous year, with the average price at $40/t, down 20.6% from a year ago.

Coking coal imports amounted to 1.72 million tonnes, surging 98.8% from the previous year.

Imports of thermal coal (lignite excluded) totaled 0.29 million tonnes, falling 84.4% on year.

In August, Shanghai imported 0.58 million tonnes of coal, dropping 23.7% year on year and down 50.3% on month, with the average price dipping 4.8% on year and down 12.4% from July to $59/t.

During the same month, lignite imports were 0.37 million tonnes or 63.8% of the total, falling 17.8% on year and down 32.7% from July, while coking coal imports rose 28.4% on year but down 47.4% on month to 0.32 million tonnes.

source: http://en.sxcoal.com