China exported 650,000 mt of coal in August, down 48% year on year, but up 30% month on month, according to preliminary figures released Tuesday by China Customs.
In the first eight months of 2012, China exported a total of 6.92 million mt of coal, down 36.6% year on year, the data showed. There was no breakdown for thermal coal and coking coal.
China exported 50,000 mt of coke in August, down 80% year on year, and down 54.5% month on month. Over January-August, China exported a total of 750,000 mt of coke, down 74% year on year.
Meanwhile, in view of contract defaults in the imported coal market in July and August, Chinese market sources estimated China's August coal imports at 18-19 million mt, down from 24.27 million mt in July. China Customs has not yet released import figures for August