The UK's imports of thermal coal soared to an 18-month high of 3.63 million mt in May, up 44% on the month and 11% higher than a year earlier, driven by increased volumes from Russia, Colombia and the US, according to customs data released Wednesday.
Imports of Russian coal to the UK in May amounted to a year-to-date high of 1.67 million mt, up 41% from the 1.18 million mt delivered in April.
Colombian May imports more than doubled on the month to 882,258 mt, the UK's largest monthly intake from the South American country since January.
Earlier in the year, Colombian supply was severely impacted by an environmental suspension at producer Drummond's operations in the country.
May deliveries of US thermal coal into the UK hit a 13-month high of 969,424 mt, up 37% from April.
The European CIF ARA market has been oversupplied for several months, with combined coal stocks at northwest European ARA discharge terminals pegged at 5.94 million mt earlier this week, having reached a year-to-date high of 6.4 million mt in June.
The UK also imported 613,998 mt of coking coal in May, up 28% from April.
