China's imports of coal in June jumped by 98% YOY to 27.19 million mt (MT), China Customs data released over the weekend showed.
The country imported 8.55 MT of thermal coal in June (excluding lignite), rocked by 154% from last June; coking coal 6.49 MT, up 94%; and anthracite 3.28 MT, down 13%. Lignite accounted for 4.66 MT of the total in June, while other types of coal products made up the balance 4.21 MT. China customs had not given lignite figure in June 2011.
In H1 2012, China imported a total of 139.85 MT of coal, up 66% YOY. Of the total, thermal coal took 43.6 MT, up 175% YOY; coking coal 27.64 MT, up 44%; lignite 26.87 MT, up 90% and anthracite 18.97 MT, up 12%.
China exported 470,000 tonnes of coal in June, down 34% YOY, and 5.77 MT over January-June, down 18% from the same period of 2011.