China January and February Trade Data

Coal, Grain, Iron Ore

Chinese imports of iron ore fell by 0.4 Mt to 181.1 Mt in January and February combined compared to the same period the year before, according to preliminary customs data.

Imports of coal (including lignite) experienced a sharper decline of 5.7 Mt to 35.4 Mt, the lowest total for the two months since 2016. Indonesia’s January coal export ban prompted a drop in coal trade between the two countries at the start of the year, with heavy rains and Covid-related disruption then slowing the recovery in Indonesian exports once the ban was lifted, industry sources report.

Meanwhile, imports of soyabeans totaled 13.9 Mt in the first two months of 2022, up 0.5 and the strongest start to a year on record.