Turkey's November bituminous thermal coal imports increased 35.1% year on year and 20.6% from October to 3.57 million mt, the highest since S&P Global Platts records began in January 2013, according to data from the Turkish statistical Institute (TUIK) published Friday.
The only other month when exports were above 3 million mt was December last year.
Imports over the January-November period were 12.9% higher year on year at 27.97 million mt.
Colombia remained the largest shipper of thermal coal to Turkey during the month at 1.64 million mt, a four-month high, up 68% year on year and up 15% from October.
Russia stayed a close second at 1.44 million mt, up 26% year on year and 6% month on month to the highest monthly volume since Platts record began. Thermal coal imports from South Africa hit an eight-month high of 355,193 mt, more than six times higher than October's 58,600 mt and 3% higher on the year.
According to the data, Turkey's total purchases in November for imported thermal coal were $257.77 million, up from the previous month's $213.46 million. This was equivalent to a monthly average price of $72.24/mt, almost steady with October's $72.16/mt.
Platts assessed the November monthly average of its CIF Turkey 6,000 kcal/kg NAR 90-day price at $91.75/mt, gaining $7 month on month.
Meanwhile, Turkey's total coking coal imports in November were 562,579 mt, rising 7% on the year and up 9% from October, according to the TUIK data.
The country's anthracite imports for the month were 44.581 mt, falling 36% on the month.
