China imported 7.75 million mt of coking coal in July this year, up 18.3 percent compared to the volume in June and up 1.8 percent year on year, according to the monthly statistics issued by Chinese customs.
In particular, the imports of coking coal from Australia amounted to 3.96 million mt in July, up 40.4 percent compared to 2.82 million mt recorded in June as Chinese steel and coke producers were more willing to purchase coking coal from Australia at lower prices amid oversupply in the import market. However, in the middle of the month the Chinese authorities already started to implement restrictions at some ports, at Caofeidian port and Jingtang port in northern China in particular, to ease the growth of imports.
In the January-July period of this year, China imported 43.95 million mt of coking coal, up 18 percent year on year. The Chinese authorities are aiming to keep import volumes of coal at the same level as in 2018, which means that shipments will have to post a visible decline in the second half of the year and that overall demand for imports will be limited, which will impact coking coal prices.