In the January-April period this year, China’s coal imports (all types) totaled 149.36 million mt, down 2.1 percent year on year, according to the latest data released by China's General Administration of Customs (GACC).
In April alone, China’s coal imports amounted to 33.083 million mt, down 15.3 percent month on month, while decreasing by 12.5 percent year on year.
In April, the ongoing war in the Middle East drove up international energy prices, compounded by rising global demand for coal-to-gas fuel, which pushed up international coal prices. Meanwhile, elevated international oil prices pushed shipping costs higher, keeping the cost of imported coal at persistently high levels. In contrast, domestic coal prices remained relatively stable, contributing to the decline in coal imports in April.
