China's coal imports hit a record 17.3mn metric tonnes in December, up 25pc from November on higher volumes from Vietnam, Australia and Indonesia.
The strong finish brought China's coal imports to a record 166mn mt for all of 2010, a 32pc increase from a revised 125.8mn mt for 2009, according to data from the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association (CCTD). The December imports were 5.8pc higher than a year prior when the previous monthly record was set.
The data show state-mandated shutdowns of energy-intensive industries late in 2010 did not curb China's appetite for coal. Lower industrial demand was offset by a cold winter, drawing down stockpiles at coal-fired utilities. The China Electricity Council estimates the country's electricity consumption, 80pc of which is met by coal-fired plants, will grow 12pc in 2011, and that coal supply will remain tight in 2011.
The month-to-month increases in December were primarily Indonesian and Australian imports, which rose by 1.3mn mt from each country. Imports from Vietnam were up 1.2mn mt, and Mongolia increased 595,799mt, while South African coal imports fell 75pc to 385,671mt.
China's coal exports came to 1.4mn mt in December, down 29pc from a year prior, to finish at 19mn mt for the full year, down from 22.4mn mt in 2009.
For the full-year 2010, Indonesia led all countries with 55mn mt of exports to China, followed by Australia at 37mn mt, Vietnam at 18mn mt, Mongolia at 16.6mn mt, Russia at 11.6mn, and South Africa at 7mn mt.
The average price paid for all coals into China in December was $108.23/mt, and for the full year was $102.74/mt.
Coking coal represented 28pc of the country's imports last year at 47.3mn mt. The average value for coking coal reported to CCTD was $145.27/mt.
Australia was the top exporter of coking coal to China at 17.4mn mt, followed by Mongolia at 15mn mt, according to the association.