Insight - Coal importers split between rich north and poor south

Surge in demand: Coal carriers are loaded at Newcastle Port, Sydney. The prices of thermal coal have surged in Asia since September last year, when demand started to recover after the initial economic lockdowns across the region started to lift. — Bloomberg

THERMAL coal’s rally to 13-year high in Asia has done little to dampen overall demand, but the region is increasingly becoming split between those countries willing and able to pay high prices, and those who are cutting now unaffordable imports.

Imports of thermal coal in wealthier north Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan are set to record month-on-month increases in August, with some reaching the most this year, according to vessel-tracking and port data compiled by commodity analysts Kpler.