China's coal import in June rebounded slightly after reaching their lowest levels this year in the preceding month, with companies raising imports ahead of an expected rise in demand in the summer.
China 's coal import in June rebounded slightly after reaching their lowest levels this year in the preceding month, with companies raising imports ahead of an expected rise in demand in the summer.

China imported 12.11 million metric tons of coal in June, up 10% on month, according to data issued Wednesday by the General Administration of Customs.

The figure was 21% lower than a year earlier due to a high comparitive basis figure last year when China 's economy was in a steeper recovery.

The customs administration confirmed that coal exports in June were 1.27 million tons, implying net coal imports of 10.84 million tons for the month.

The National Energy Administration said this week that China 's coal demand is likely to weaken in the second half and the its coal imports may rise at a slower pace.

The NEA said domestic power consumption is expected to rise 11% this year, compared with 21.57% in the January-June period, as on-year growth in electricity use in the second half will likely ease.

China imported 81.09 million tons of coal in the first six months of the year, up 70.6% from a year earlier, the customs administration said, although the on-year rise slowed each month between January and May.

High international coal prices are also curbing China 's appetite for coal imports.

Australian coal at the port of Newcastle , a regional benchmark, was assessed Friday at $96.34 a ton by globalCOAL, down 0.7% from the previous week.

In comparison, Datong Quality Mix coal with a calorific value of 5800 kilocalories a kilogram was unchanged from a week earlier at CNY780-CNY790 ($115.0-$116.5) a ton, while Shanxi Quality Mix coal with a calorific value of 5500 kilocalories/kg was also unchanged at CNY750-CNY760/ton ($110.6-$112.1) Monday, according to the China Coal Transportation and Distribution Association.

After adding freight and tax, the import cost for Australian coal is higher than for domestic coal, while coal from Indonesia and Vietnam is much cheaper than Australia coal, analysts said.

Indonesia has become the number one coal supplier to China , with Australia left behind in second place.

China imported 3.71 million tons of coal from Indonesia in June, up 38.24% on year, and 1.77 million tons from Australia , down 73.89% on year, the data showed.

China 's coke imports in June also rose 97% on year to 26,616 tons, it showed.

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