China Import Data of Coal – China Bans Coal Imports from Australia

05 January 2021

China has reportedly told coal trades to stop imports from Australia that would choke a major trade channel for both countries. Australia is the top most source of coal for China, which accounted for almost 50% to total coal imports. Based on China import statistics of coal, China imported USD 9.3 billion worth of coal from Australia in 2019. In first six months of 2020, China imported USD 5.75 billion worth of coal from Australia. Let’s see & analyze data on China imports coal from Australia and the world.

China Coal Imports from Australia and World Q1-Q2 of 2020

China’s imports of coal from Australia valued USD 3.38 billion in Q1 and USD 2.37 billion in Q2 of 2020. As compared to the same period last year, China imported coal from Australia valued USD 2.4 billion in Q1 and USD 2.2 billion in Q2 in 2019.

Globally, China imported coal worth USD 5.62 billion in first quarter and USD 4.42 billion in second quarter of 2020. In same period of 2019, China’s imports of coal from the world valued USD 4.5 billion first quarter and USD 5.0 billion in second quarter.

China Coal Imports from World in Last 10 Years

As per China import data, China imported coal the most from world countries in 2011, 2012 and 2013, when the value of shipments recorded above USD 20 billion mark. Year 2015 and 2016 recorded a major decline in the value of coal imports. Below given chart shows dollar amount of coal imports in China from global countries during last 10 years.

 

China’s Top 5 Import Partners of Coal 2019

Australia stood as the largest coal import source of China, which shared 49.3% value to total imports in 2019. Value-wise, China’s top 5 import partners of coal in 2019 were Australia (USD 9,330 million), Mongolia (USD 3,073 million), Indonesia (USD 2,987 million), Russia (USD 2,546 million) and Canada (USD 672 million).

Quantity-wise, the value of countries recorded in 2019 as follows Australia (76,958,144 tons), Indonesia (47,842,205 tons), Mongolia (36,057,774 tons), Russia (29,176,149 tons) and Canada (3,802,349 tons). Check percentage share of these countries in chart given below.

 

Australia’s Stand on China Coal Import Ban

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that a Chinese ban on Australian coal imports would breach World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, as his government urged Beijing to resume dialog to ease the worsening diplomatic dispute. More than 50 vessels carrying Australian coal have been stranded off China after ports were verbally told in October not to offload such shipments.

As per Australia export data of coal, Australia is China’s top supplier of coking coal and iron ore, the two main ingredients used to make steel, while also being a major provider of LNG and thermal coal, used predominantly in power stations. Get latest updates on China-Australia bilateral trade relations right here.