China’s coal imports fell in December 2021, down from an 11-month high in November, as domestic coal miners increased output to a record.

China, the world’s largest coal importer, imported 30.95 million tonnes of coal in December, down 11.7% from November, data from the General Administration of Customs of China showed on Friday.
This is down from 35.05 million tons in November and 39.08 million tons in December 2020, when Beijing eased import restrictions on some power plants to meet heating demand. is on the rise.
“Coal imports slowed in December due to improved domestic production,” ANZ analysts said in a note to clients, adding, “Industrial activity slowed on occasion. Lunar New Year may cause imports to drop until February 2021.
China’s 2021 coal imports stood at T323.22 million, the highest since 2013 and up from 303.99 million tons a year earlier.
Chinese traders have reduced their coal purchases abroad after domestic miners responded to Beijing’s call to secure energy supplies during the winter by ramping up production to record highs. while domestic coal prices fell by more than half.
Coal stocks have fallen as winter heating season is in the middle of the season.
Justin Jose, coal analyst at Rystad Energy expects coal imports to pick up again in February-March.
The state planning agency said coal supplies were secure, even as coal inventories “slightly fluctuated” from a record high of 168 million tonnes reached on December 22. They remained above 160. million tons, exceeding the level of the previous year.
Unlike two years ago, China did not impose an unofficial import limit in 2021 amid efforts to ensure stable coal supplies to ease nationwide power shortages and regulate coal prices. increase.

However, the unofficial ban on coal imports from Australia remains in place.
China’s coal imports are expected to fall in January after Indonesia, the country’s largest coal supplier, halted exports on January 1, 2022, after its state-owned power company reported low fuel inventories at domestic power plants.

Source: VITIC/Reuters

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