Chinese coal Imports reaching new record in Sep’24, and ahead?

In September 2024, China’s coal imports increased by 13% year-on-year, reaching a record 47.6 million tonnes.

A chart showing the evolution of Chinese coal imports from January to December, comparing data from 2022, 2023, and 2024, with each year represented by different colours from the IFCHOR GALBRAITHS palette. A grey-shaded area also represents the 5-year variation range.

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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