China’s renewed appetite for Australian coal disrupts Asia flows

(FILES) This file photo taken on November 18, 2015 shows a large truck driving trough an open-cut coal mine in Singleton in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

CHINA’S renewed appetite for Australian coal after Beijing ended its unofficial ban on imports, coupled with strong overall demand for the fuel used to generate power, is forcing a realignment of seaborne flows in Asia.

China’s total coal imports have soared this year, with customs data released on Aug 8 showing July imports at 39.26 million tonnes, level with June’s 39.87 million but up a massive 66.9% from the same month last year.