Guangdong province, southern China's economic hub, imported 4.31 million mt of coal in September, down 2.1% from the previous month and lower by 6.1% on the year, according to Chinese customs data.
The total value of September imports was $270.75 million, which translates into an average price of $62.82/mt, down $2.82/mt compared with the previous month and $8.86/mt year on year.
Thermal coal imports, mainly used for power generation, stood at 3.85 million mt in September, down 4.9% month on month and down 7.2% on the year.
Of this total, lignite imports accounted for 50.7% or 1.95 million mt, rising 12.7% from August and up 12.1% year on year. About 96.4% of the total lignite imports came from Indonesia.
Guangdong province also imported 208,596 mt of coking coal in September, up 3.2% month on month and higher by 163% compared to the year before.
State-owned Guangdong Yudean Group Co., Ltd. imported 764,488 mt of coal in September, the highest in the province, followed by privately-owned Dongguan Huihuang Energy Co., Ltd., which bought 625,590 mt.
China Huaneng Fuel Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the country's top generator Huaneng Group, imported 301,498 mt of coal in September.
In the first three quarters this year, total coal imports reached 46.43 million mt, falling 1% in comparison with the same period last year.
Total value was down 10.2% year on year to $3.17 billion.
Thermal coal imports from January to September reached 40.87 million mt, up 5.1% year on year.
Lignite imports increased 13.8% year on year to 20 million mt, while coking coal imports stood at 1.95 million mt, down 28% from a year ago.
