KIEV: Ukraine’s total imports of coal, including coking coal, thermal coal and anthracite, decreased 9.7% year-on-year to 4.83 million metric tons in January through April, down from 5.35 million metric ton (mt) imported in January-April 2016, the state customs service said Friday.
The value of coal imports over the period soared 66.2% to $770.9 million from $463.9 million in January-April 2016, the customs service said.
Ukraine mainly imports coal from Russia, but also takes some material from the US, Australia, Poland, South Africa and other countries.
Coal-burning power plants received 550,500 mt of imported thermal coal and anthracite in January-April, including 137,000 mt in April alone, according to the energy and coal industry ministry.
In the first four months, Ukraine’s production of coal fell by 3.3% year-on-year to 13.07 million mt.
Output of thermal coal increased by 3.2% to 10.76 million mt in January-April, while coking coal output dropped by 25% to 2.31 million mt, according to the ministry.
