South Africa exported 6.19 million mt of thermal coal in April, edging 0.3% up on the year, but down 2% on the month, according to customs data released late Wednesday.
Exports to largest destination India fell 21% on-year to 3.5 million mt, although jumped 10% from March to the highest level since May last year.
Shipments to India comprised 57% of the total -- also the largest percentage since May 2016.
Pakistan was once again the second-largest taker in April at 979,500 mt of South African thermal coal, much higher than the previous year's 331,500 mt, but down 16% from March.
South Africa exported 300,000 mt of thermal coal to Taiwan in April, which compared to none in March or the previous year.
South Korea moved to fourth place, with only a seven-month low of 165,540 mt exported to the country in April, which was 61% lower on the month, but compared to zero in April 2016.
South African shipments to Northeast Asia -- including South Korea, Taiwan and Japan -- rose 9% on the month to 465,540 mt, primarily due to the increase in shipments to Taiwan, while nothing was sent to Japan during the month.
Shipments to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean dropped 5% on the month and 69% on the year to 127,248 mt, with 78,545 mt sent to the Netherlands.
No South African thermal coal was shipped to Turkey in April for the third consecutive month.
