China's increased appetite for thermal coal from Australia and Russia has led to a shift in imports by India, the world's second biggest coal buyer.
From December to February India's imports of Australian thermal coal had been above 1 million metric tons per month, peaking in January at 1.79 million.
In contrast India is turning back to thermal coal from Indonesia, with July arrivals of 6.87 million metric tons, up from 6.04 million in June.
For July, Indonesia's share of India's thermal coal imports was 63%, which was the highest since the 65% in April.
China and India both generally import Australian thermal coal of a lower energy value than the traditional buyers of Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Persons:
David Gray, it's, Indonesia's, Shri Navaratnam
Organizations:
REUTERS, Labor Party, Liberal, National, China, Argus, Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
Ulan, New South Wales, Mudgee, Australia, LAUNCESTON, Beijing, Asia, China, Mongolia, Indonesia, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia's Newcastle, Ukraine