UK imports of thermal coal in August fell 67% year on year to 1.087 million mt in August, which was 62% lower than July, customs data showed Wednesday.
Deliveries from the UK's three main sources -- Colombia, Russia and the US -- all fell, with the August figure the lowest monthly number since Platts started compiling data at the start of 2012.
A summer decline in prompt NBP gas prices activated a wave of coal to gas switching by generators, slowing coal stockpile depletion.
Imports of Russian coal fell 57% month on month to 555,279 mt.
Colombian imports were down 60% month on month to 358,288 mt, below the previous year-to-date low of 382,292 mt set in February when Colombian supply was hit by an environmental suspension at producer Drummond's operations.
August imports of US thermal coal fell 77% on the month to 143,159 mt.
Softening Europe-delivered CIF ARA thermal coal prices have pressured the arbitrage window for US exports into Europe, with traders saying the lion's share of US material still reaching the continent was tonnage sold forward when prices were higher.
