China’s December coal imports fall, 2021 imports highest since 2013

China’s coal imports fell in December, slipping from November’s 11-month high, as domestic coal miners boosted output to record levels and utilities slowed the pace of replenishing inventories.

China, the world’s largest coal buyer, imported 30.95 million tonnes of coal in December, down 11.7 % from November, figures from the General Administration of Customs of China showed on Friday.

That compares to 35.05 million tonnes in November and 39.08 million tonnes in December 2020 when Beijing relaxed import restrictions for some power plants to meet surging demand for heating.

For full year 2021, coal shipments reached 323.22 million tonnes, the highest since 2013, and up from 303.99 million tonnes a year ago.