Colombia exported 7.41 million mt of thermal coal in February, down 5% year-on-year but up 14% from January's 10-month low, with higher exports to a number of destinations, data from Colombian shipping agent Deep Blue showed Wednesday.
Turkey was sent a five-month high of 1.58 million mt in February, up 21% on the year and 12% from January. The Netherlands also saw exports rise 21% on the month to 810,148 mt. But they remained below the 1 million mt level for the second consecutive month and plunged 69% on the year.
According to the data, there were no shipments to South Korea in February for the second straight month, after 1.95 million mt was sent to the country over the May-December 2016 period.
US-based producer Drummond's Puerto Drummond exported a three-month high of 3.18 million mt of thermal coal during February, comprising 43% of the total volume. This was 4% lower on the year but up 64% from January.
Shipments from Cerrejon's Puerto Bolivar terminal comprised 31% of total February exports at 2.28 million mt, dropping 2% on the year and 18% on the month.
Prodeco's Puerto Nuevo also saw exports edged 1% lower on the year, but rise 4% from January to 1.54 million mt. Shipments from third-party port Carbosan-Sociedad Portuaria de Santa Marta were 292,694 mt, down 40% on the year but 18% higher than the previous month.
The monthly average for Platts FOB Colombia 6,000 kcal/kg NAR thermal coal price in February was $79.50/mt, down from $83.75/mt in January.
The Deep Blue data showed that 199,728 mt of coking coal was exported in February, more than six times the 33,000 mt shipped a year ago, and also more than seven times January's 28,489 mt.
