From January to September, imports totaled 389 million tonnes and could surpass 500 million tonnes in 2024, making up over 50% of global coal trade. Reduced water flow along the Yangtze River and the forecasted absence of October rain have strained hydropower and favored coal-fired power plants. The annual two-week maintenance on the Datong-Qinhuangdao railways and ongoing negotiations for 2025 contracts among power utilities and coal miners suggest that coal import levels will remain steady for the next 3-4 months.
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