Coal news and updates

Taiwan Aug thermal coal imports up 20% on year

Taiwan's thermal coal imports in August increased by 20% year on year to 5.96 million mt, as stronger volumes from Indonesia offset declines from other major origins, customs data showed Thursday.

The island's total thermal imports in the first eight months of 2014 rose to 46.09 million mt, 5% higher on the year and at an annualized rate of 69.14 million mt.

Taiwan's receipts of Indonesian thermal coal in August jumped 30% on the year and 22% on the month to 2.62 million mt, the highest monthly total since April.

Australian deliveries edged down 4% on the month to 2.21 million mt, the lowest in three months, while those from Russia fell 36% on the month to 515,227 mt.

Australia remained Taiwan's largest supplier of thermal coal in the first eight months of 2014, shipping 19.19 million mt compared with 18.81 million mt from Indonesia.

A single 148,178 mt Capesize shipment of South African thermal coal was delivered to Taiwan in August, the first cargo from Richards Bay to arrive since May.

Source: Platts