Coal news and updates

Pakistan’s coal imports via RBCT up 55.53% in 2014

January 14: Pakistan’s coal imports from Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) of South Africa during 2014 (January-December) stood at 3,184,690 tons, up 55.53% from 2,047,627 tons imported in 2013, according to data available with ICMW.

With this, Pakistan is believed to be the third largest coal importer after Turkey in 2014 from South Africa.

In 2012, however, total imports of coal by Pakistan from South Africa stood at 791,131 tons whereas in 2011, these were at 493,255 tons which shows that Pakistan’s coal imports from South Africa have taken a significant jump since 2011. 

According to sources, Pakistan’s attempts to improve power generation capacity of the country after Nawaz Sharif came to power as Prime Minister might be responsible for the country’s higher imports of coal from RBCT.

In fact, Pakistan’s coal imports from RBCT during December stood at 223,320 tons, almost double as compared to 110,966 tons imported in November, according to data available with ICMW.

During December 2013, Pakistan’s coal imports from RBCT stood at 220,973 tons.

It augurs well for Pakistan to import coal from South Africa instead of Indonesia, because of competitive freight rates and better quality of coal, industry sources said.

Following table provides monthly details of coal imports by Pakistan from RBCT in 2014 and 2013 (in tons):