Dry bulk market: Indonesian coal exports a driving force in 2023

SCoal exports from Indonesia were a driving force in 2023, up 10.2% compared to 2022. In a recent weekly report, shipbroker Panchero Costa said, „Global coal trade has really picked up in recent months and is now fully back to pre-Covid levels. Global seaborne coal loading +5.8% in January-December 2023, based on ship tracking data from AXS Marine. YoY increased to 1,339.5 million tonnes (excluding cabotage), which was higher than the 1,265.5 million tonnes loaded in January-December 2022, 1,254.2 million tonnes in January-December 2021 and 1,196.5 million tonnes in January-December 2020. This was higher than the 1,309.5 million tonnes loaded in January-December 2020. rather than Dec 2019. In January-December 2023, exports from Indonesia increased +10.2% yoy to 494.6 million tonnes and from Australia +4.6% yoy to 344.1 million tonnes. Exports from Russia declined -2.1% yoy to 184.6 million tonnes in 2023. , increased by +16.7% yo-y to 86.6 million tonnes from the US and +0.4% yoy to 60.8 million tonnes from South Africa. Exports from Colombia rose +1.9% yo-y to 56.4 million tonnes in January 2023, Canada rose +9.6% yo-y to 49.9 million tonnes and Mozambique rose +15.1% to 23.8 million tonnes. In January-December 2023, seaborne coal imports to Japan fell -10.3% yoy to 160.5 million tonnes, South Korea -4.4% yoy to 117.4 million tonnes, Taiwan -4.3% yoy to 58.3 million tonnes, while India increased. +6.9% yo-y to 240.8 million tonnes and for Vietnam +54.2% yoy to 47.4 million tonnes.

According to the shipbroker, “Indonesia is the world's largest seaborne coal exporter, accounting for 36.9% of the global seaborne coal market in 2023. Export volumes from Indonesia were relatively subdued in 2020 and 2021 due to disruption caused by Covid19 and government policies. Domestic consumption is positive, but at an all-time high in 2022, and continues to grow further in 2023. Total seaborne coal exports from Indonesia reached 448.8 million tons in 2022, up +7.9%, according to AXS Ocean Shipping Monitoring data. . In 2023, coal exports from Indonesia will further increase by 10.2% yoy to 494.6 million tonnes”.

„The majority of Indonesian coal exports are loaded in East Kalimantan and South Kalimantan (Island of Borneo), with some volumes sent from the island of South Sumatra. Indonesia's main coal export terminals are: Taponio/Banjarmasin (January-December 2023 loading 94.8 million tonnes), Muara Perau (40.9 million tons), Tanjung Para (38.1 million tons), Samarinda (37.1 million tons), Mura Banyuasin 34.4 million tons), Balikpapan (30.1 million tons), Bunati (30.0 million tons), Mura Bandai (29.4 million tons), Adang Bay ( 21.8 million tons), Mura Satui (14.6 million tons), Tanjung Bemansingh (13.5 million tons), Sangulirong (12.9 million tons), Seniba Terminal (11.6 million tons). Most (55%) of coal volumes from Indonesia in 2023 were loaded on Panamax vessels. , with 37% loaded in Supramax/Handymax vessels, and just 8% in capsize tonnes.China continues to dominate Indonesian seaborne coal exports, accounting for 41.5% of exports in January-December 2023. Exports from Indonesia to China rose +21.7% to 205.2 million tonnes in Jan-Dec 2023, followed by a -10.0% yoy decline in Jan-Dec 2022”, the shipbroker said.

„About 21.0% of exports or 104.1 million tonnes in January-December 2023 went to India, which represents a modest increase of +0.2% yoy from 103.9 million tonnes in 2022, but India exported more than 68.8 million tonnes. Exports to the Philippines also increased by +18.6% yoy to 35.0 million tonnes. In 2023, the Philippines accounted for 7.1% of Indonesian exports. Exports to South Korea fell -0.7% yoy to 26.1 million tonnes in 2023, while Korea accounted for 5.3%. Japan imported 25.2 million tonnes of coal from Indonesia, down -5.1%. Malaysia received 24.6 million tons, which is +7.4% yoy. Last but not least, exports to Vietnam increased by +88.1% yoy to 17.7 million tons in January-December 2023,” concluded Banchero Costa.
Nikos Roussanoglou, Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide