Chinese coal exports increased by 7.51 billion tonnes to 39.3Bt in calendar 1999 over 1998, according to newly released trade statistics.
Of this 3 million tonnes was anthracite (up 13% on 1998), 5Mt was metallurgical coal (up 7.5%), and 32Mt was thermal coal (up 23%).
Major buyers were South Korea, which bought 15.91Mt (up 98%) and Japan, which received 12Mt (down 5.3%).
According to the Tex Report, Chinese coal exports to South Korea are growing at a far higher pace in 2000 than last year, while exports to Japan are being curbed.
The difference between export volumes of Chinese coal to Japan and South Korea is likely to widen in the future.
