Chinese coal and lignite imports in July rose by nearly 50% year on year to a 4.5-year high of 936,000t/day, according to customs data. Strong demand from China and high export prices boosted Indonesia's thermal coal shipments to 1.24 million metric tonnes (mt) per day in July, a 4% rise compared to the previous month and 20% up from the year before, making it the highest levels since March 2014, according to Bank Indonesia data. The Indonesian government has been trying to boost domestic energy production by encouraging more use of renewable sources such as solar power and wind power. The boost saw the Indonesian energy ministry's August coal reference price reach a 2018 high of $107.83 per mt.
Strong demand from China and high export prices boosted Indonesia's thermal coal shipments to 1.24 million metric tonnes (mt) per day in July, a 4% rise compared to the previous month and 20% up from the year before, making it the highest levels since March 2014, according to Bank Indonesia data. The Indonesian government has been trying to boost domestic energy production by encouraging more use of renewable sources such as solar power and wind power. The boost saw the Indonesian energy ministry's August coal reference price reach a 2018 high of $107.83 per mt.