Global seaborne coal trade rose 5.7% in 2021, German importers say

Global seaborne coal trade rose by 5.7% last year, driven by rising demand from steelmakers for coking coal and its products as economies began to recover from the coronavirus crisis, Germany’s VDKi coal importers lobby group said.

Imports and exports of hard coal across the globe stood at 1.180 billion tonnes in 2021, up from 1.116 billion in 2020, the Verein der Kohlenimporteure (VDKi) estimated.

Trade in coking coal rose by 6% to 903 million tonnes while that of steam coal for power stations was up 4.9% at 277 million tonnes, it said.

Strong demand came out of Asia, with notable growth rates in smaller economies such as Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, adding to China and India’s overriding hunger for imported energy, VDKi said.

Among exporters, Russia and the United States exceeded export volumes of pre-pandemic 2019.

Only 17% of hard coal consumed globally is traded internationally.

In Germany, Europe’s biggest importer, shipments in 2022 could rise by 7.7% to 42 million tonnes after rising by 24.5% last year, VDKi noted.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Vera Eckert Editing by David Goodman)