The UK's imported 141,670 mt of thermal coal in January, plunging 79% year on year and 77% from December to a seven-month low, according to customs data received Monday.
December had seen imports rise to a 10-month high, although volumes did not exceed 700,000 mt in any month of 2016.
Shipments to the UK have been declining since its Carbon Price Support mechanism was doubled in April 2015, decreasing coal's competitiveness. A number of coal-fired power stations closed in 2016 due to deteriorating market economics for coal plant generators.
During January, the UK primarily imported Russian thermal coal, with 131,974 mt received from the county, down 21% on the year but steady from December.
No coal was received from Colombia, the US or South Africa, with 7,672 mt imported from the Netherlands and 1,802 mt from Ireland.
