HANOI: Vietnam’s coal imports surged 311.9% year on year to 813,121 mt in November and edged up 1.7% from October, customs data released Tuesday showed. Traditionally a coal exporter, the country has actively turned to imports this year to meet rising domestic demand, particularly from the power sector.
State-owned Vietnam Electricity said in October it added 2,324 MW of electricity generation capacity at new coal-fired power plants over January- September, which collectively consume about 6.6 million mt/year of coal.
Vietnam’s main suppliers of coal in November were Indonesia at 210,799 mt, up 67.6% year on year, Australia at 204,453 mt, up from zero a year earlier, and Russia at 179,029 mt, up from 23,100 mt.
Over January-November, Vietnam imported 5.86 million mt of coal, jumping 115.7% year on year, The main suppliers were Indonesia at 1.75 million mt, up 31.7% year on year, China at 1.49 million mt, up 243.9% and Australia at 1.13 million mt, up 130.1%. Vietnam exported 92,829 mt of coal in November, down 75.5% year on year and down 13.7% from October.
Most of the exports went to Japan at 53,628 mt, up 35.4% year on year and South Korea at 20,560 mt, down 76.5%. Over January-November, Vietnam exported 1.68 million mt of coal, down 74.7% year on year, much of it to Japan at 630,533 mt, down 23.4% year on year and South Korea at 262,477 mt, down 76%.
