Chinese coal imports in July jump by record 34pct - ANZ

Tuesday, 23 Aug 2011

Bloomberg quoted Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd said coal imports into China, the world biggest consumer jumped 34% to a record in July.

Mr Mark Pervan an analyst at ANZ in Melbourne said shipments climbed sharply from a year earlier to 17.53 million tonnes.

He said that imports are set to accelerate next month or in October as utilities start to restock in anticipation of stronger winter demand. He added that “Signs of a pickup in Chinese activity are supporting China imported coal prices.”

According to the report China bought more low quality coal. Imports came to 3.63 million tons for the anthracite variety, 4.05 million tonnes for coking coal and 9.85 million tonnes for thermal coal.

Coking coal is used to make steel, while thermal coal is burned to generate power. China is the world’s biggest steel producer.

(sourced Bloomberg)

Coal shipment in China: Jingtang port coal stocks drop below 3 Mt

News via en.sxcoal.com Jan 10, 2011
Coal stockpiled at Jingtang port, one of the major loading ports in northern China, declined to 2.99 million tonnes on Jan 9, falling 360,000 tonnes or 10.74% from a month ago, Qinhuangdao Seaborne Coal Market said in a report on its website (www.cqcoal.com).
Meanwhile, 7 vessels were being loaded, 22 ones waiting off, and another 10 expected, the report said.
Impacted by cold snaps, power plants increased coal shipment from the port to supplement inventories.
Since Jan, daily coal loading at Jingtang port averaged at 180,000 tonnes, and 150,000 tonnes coal was transported to the port by railway, according to the report.