Colombian Steam Coal Exports Pivot to Asia

Coal

Exports of Colombian steam coal fell by nearly 1.0 Mt year-on-year to 6.1 Mt in March, according to data gathered by IHS, as shipments to European/Mediterranean countries dropped by 1.8 Mt to a near ten-year low of 1.9 Mt. There was also a 0.8 Mt drop in exports to the Americas to 1.8 Mt. However, these declines were partially countered by a sharp rise in loadings for Asia (+1.6 Mt) to a record 2.4 Mt.

The country’s steam coal exports edged up to 18.9 Mt in 1q20 from 17.2 Mt in 1q19, of which shipments to Asia accounted for 5.1 Mt climbing from 1.4 Mt. Exports to India and China surged to 2.3 Mt and just under 1.0 Mt, respectively, in 1q20 from no volumes to either country in January-March 2019.