HANOI: Vietnam imported 564,329 mt of coal in August, surging 80.2% year on year and up 15.2% from July, as severe weather disrupted most production and sales from late July to early August, according to customs data released Wednesday.
The heaviest rain in 40 years hit the country’s key coal production area of Quang Ninh and forced main producer Vinacomin to halt production and sales in the province over July 26-August 3. Imports from Indonesia in August increased 46.6% year on year to 146,223 mt.
The other leading suppliers in the month included China (136,729 mt, up 291.8% year on year), Australia (108,779 mt, up 0.43% year on year) and Russia (100,226 mt, up 141.5%).
The imports in August were worth $45 million, up 18.4% year on year and up 4.7% from July. Traditionally a coal exporter, Vietnam has actively turned to coal imports to meet rising domestic coal demand, particularly from the power sector.
Over January-August, the country imported 3.28 million mt of coal, up 60.2% year on year, worth $288 million, up 15.6% year on year. Main suppliers of coal to Vietnam over January-August included Indonesia (1.1 million mt, up 12.1% year on year), Australia (695,539 mt, up 59.6%), and Russia (652,075 mt, up 348.1%).
Vietnam, which mainly produces and exports thermal coal, exported 91,186 mt of coal in August, down 82.6% year on year and down 13.5% from July. The August exports were worth $7.7 million, down 79.5% year on year and down 25.1% from July.
The top recipient in August was South Korea, taking 46,285 mt, down 76.5% year on year. China, the traditionally biggest coal buyer of Vietnam in recent years, did not import any volume over January-August, according to the data.
In the first eight months, Vietnam exported 1.28 million mt of coal, down 75.6% year on year. The export value fell 64.9% to $136 million. Main buyers of Vietnamese coal over January-August included Japan (379,417 mt, down 44.6% year on year) and South Korea (232,675 mt, down 72.2% year on year).
