BEIJING: China’s thermal coal imports from Russia jumped 51% in May from the prior month, as buyers snapped up the attractively priced fuel ahead of anticipated strong demand in summer.
The world’s biggest coal consumer brought in 3.3 million tonnes of thermal coal from Russia last month, up from April’s 2.19 million tonnes, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Monday.
Russian cargoes have been priced at a discount to supplies from elsewhere, with many buyers halting purchases ahead of embargoes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, Chinese and Indian traders have snapped up cheap Russian coal in recent months, pushing up the price from prior bargain levels.
