China imported 4.79 million mt of coking coal in May this year, down by 19.1 percent year on year, while down 23.8 percent month on month, as announced by the Chinese customs authorities. The main reason for the decline was stronger restrictions at ports as foreign shipments had already increased visibly since the beginning of the year and the government was implementing more measures to contain any further increase.
In the January-May period this year, China imported 31.86 million mt of coking coal, up 7.1 percent year on year.