GACC: China's 2024 thermal coal imports rise 15% y-o-y

Mysteel Global: China's imports of thermal coal in December jumped by 17% on year to 40.08 million tonnes (mnt), data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) showed, despite being lower by 2.9% from the record high of 41.28 mnt in November. Last month's volume took China's total thermal coal imports during 2024 to 405.98 mnt, higher by a huge 14.6% on year, the GACC data showed. Thermal coal represented 76.6% of China's total coal imports last month, which stood at 52.35 mnt, the GACC data showed.

By origin, Indonesia cemented its position as China's top thermal coal supplier last month, delivering 25.23 mnt, up 23.2% on year and 0.3% on month, the GACC data showed. Indonesia's shipments accounted for 62.9% of China's total thermal coal imports during the month, Mysteel data show.

Australia ranked as the second-largest supplier, shipping 7.48 mnt, a 20.6% rise from a year earlier but stable from November.

Russia, the third-largest source, exported 3.27 mnt to China in December, shrinking 11.5% on year and 25.8% on month.

By recipient, Fujian province in southeastern China emerged as the largest coal importer in December, receiving 8.83 mnt, the Customs data showed. It was followed by Guangdong in the south, which took in 7.5 mnt, and Zhejiang in the east, totalling 4.25 mnt.

Note: This article has been written in accordance with a content exchange agreement between Mysteel Global and BigMint.